A round-up of the latest Newcastle United headlines on Sunday, February 12.
Shaka Hislop warns Newcastle United they haven't 'blown teams away' like earlier in the season
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has warned the Magpies they're allowing opponents to stay in the game unlike earlier in the season. Eddie Howe's side are still hot in their pursuit of European football but have drawn five of their last six games in the Premier League.
The Magpies have conceded third place to Manchester United in recent weeks but are still in the chasing pack for the Champions League. Just two points separate Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle, but the Toon have a game in hand and can consolidate their grip on the top-four.
However, they know they need to find a way to covert draws into three points having struggled to do so of late. Hislop has warned Newcastle they aren't blowing teams away like earlier in the season.
Kieron Dyer rubbishes Carabao Cup focus claim after Newcastle's draw with Bournemouth
Kieron Dyer says Newcastle United are still in the hunt for top-four football despite dropping points at Bournemouth. The Magpies have drawn five of their last six games in the Premier League but are also through to the Carabao Cup Final later this month.
Newcastle supporters will travel to Wembley for the first time in two decades to face Manchester United and much of the talk in recent weeks has been about the showpiece finale. However, former Magpies midfielder Dyer has rubbished talk of Eddie Howe's side having one eye on their date at Wembley.
When asked if focus had become more about the Carabao Cup than the Premier League, Dyer told Sky Sports: "No. Again, the results went for them today.
Newcastle's 'staleness' where there once was a 'freshness' will concern Eddie Howe
What a golden opportunity missed. Yet again. What frustration. How predictable. Five draws from the last six Premier League matches and but for an 89th minute winner home to Fulham it would have been a full house.
Newcastle are tip toeing uphill in their quest for Champions League qualification. Tottenham ought to have been their Spur. They got slaughtered conceding four goals at Leicester and United could have gone four points ahead of fifth place with a game in hand but failed to do so.
What has happened to United's famed intensity? To their quick, slick passing? To their goal threat? Even to their iron tight defending?
Fabian Schar's brutally honest assessment of Newcastle United's 1-1 draw at AFC Bournemouth
Fabian Schar has given an honest verdict after Newcastle United were held by AFC Bournemouth on the South Coast.
The Switzerland international felt that Newcastle were lacking a cutting edge in the final third and cited a failure to create better chances as the reason two points slipped away.
But he was also happy to point out the positives as he kept up a 17-game unbeaten run and his own personal unbeaten run going.
Newcastle United still in the chasing pack as national media deliver Bournemouth verdict
Here is a look at what the national media had to say following Newcastle United's draw with Bournemouth.
Newcastle miss opportunity to strengthen grip on top-four
Sam Drury of the BBC said: "It shows how far Newcastle have come under Howe that there will be frustration following a result that keeps gives them a two-point cushion in fourth. But while they are still far exceeding pre-season expectations, they now hold themselves to a higher standard and, up against a side battling relegation, they failed to meet it.
"Bruno Guimaraes was serving the second game of a three-match ban and was sorely missed in the midfield, particularly during an uncharacteristically sloppy first-half showing. There was an improvement in the second half but save for Gordon's gilt-edged chance when Neto spilled Saint-Maximin's shot and smothered Longstaff's follow-up, Newcastle chances were at a premium.
Newcastle United's January mistake comes back to haunt them sooner than anticipated
“No window is perfect, and I don’t think this window has been perfect for us. That’s just the reality of the situation. You have to look at things from a position of everybody’s needs and wants. We’re maybe light in a couple of areas, but we do have a lot of quality within the squad.”
Those were Eddie Howe's words as he assessed Newcastle United's January business following Jonjo Shelvey's Deadline Day exit. Fast forward less than two weeks and the Magpies are now even lighter in the middle of the park.
After losing Bruno Guimaraes for three games due to his red card against Southampton, lady luck clearly isn't shining on the Magpies at present as Howe now faces the thought of being without Joe Willock for an even longer period of time. Tests will be conducted on the 23-year-old following a suspected hamstring injury but the Toon boss wasn't hopeful when assessing the blow at full-time.
Newcastle have found their Jose Mourinho 'untouchable' but Liverpool may see new 'solution'
Newcastle United found a way to win games a year ago when Bruno Guimaraes was gradually eased into life in the Premier League. However, the Brazil international's return from suspension cannot come quickly enough for the Magpies.
Bruno brings something different to this side. Not only is Bruno someone who can win the ball back and get Newcastle moving; the midfielder also possesses the vision and passing range that no one else at the club has.
Bruno is simply an 'untouchable' - to borrow a term used by Jose Mourinho - and the stats tell their own story about the talisman's influence. Newcastle have won 10 of the 17 (59%) Premier League games Bruno has played in this season and Eddie Howe's team have, tellingly, failed to triumph any of the five top-flight fixtures the playmaker has missed, including Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe delivers 'very good' Allan Saint-Maximin assessment after Bournemouth draw
Allan Saint-Maximin is on course to reproduce his best form in a Newcastle United shirt - in the eyes of Eddie Howe.
The winger had a big hand in Newcastle's equaliser at Bournemouth after a telling run down the left before picking out Sean Longstaff. It was Longstaff's stinging shot that forced Neto into a save before Miguel Almiron converted.
Howe said: "With Maxi, I think he produced a much-improved performance from last week and I think that’s finding his game rhythm again. He was out for a long time, so I was pleased with him today.
Bournemouth make 'run for their money' statement but Newcastle change leaves Gary O'Neil 'desperate'
Gary O'Neil has suggested that Bournemouth came 'closest' to ending Newcastle United's unbeaten run in the Premier League after his side gave the Magpies 'a real good run for their money'.
Bournemouth may have been languishing in 19th place, but the Cherries did not look like a team who had not won a game since November on Saturday night. Newcastle just did not match Bournemouth's intensity at the Vitality Stadium in the opening stages and Marcos Senesi gave the hosts a deserved lead on the half-hour mark.
However, Joe Willock's injury and the introduction of Anthony Gordon from the bench in a free role through the middle briefly unsettled Bournemouth in the 39th minute. O'Neil even admitted he was 'desperate' to get to half-time at 1-0 up to address the visitors' change of shape before Gordon played his part in the build-up to Miguel Almiron's equaliser just before the break.
Our 48-page Carabao Cup final special is available to pre-order now! Click HERE to get your copy as Newcastle United prepare for a historic day out at Wembley. Also available to purchase through local participating retailers from February 15.
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