Eddie Howe has targeted the festive period as a key period of absolute focus for Newcastle United this year.
Last season the Magpies slipped up at the hands of then newly promoted Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in an awful pre-Christmas 1-0 loss. Then a Boxing Day day surrender against Nottingham Forest ended in a 3-1 defeat before Liverpool rolled Newcastle over on New Year’s Day in a 4-2 win.
Newcastle did not recover their Premier League form until January 30 in an impressive win over Aston Villa but by which time they had slipped out of European contention with it all to do in early 2024. And the final table showed that those lost nine points over Christmas would have secured a place in Europe.
The trip to Ipswich, just days before Christmas, has similar vibes to Luton last year. Up against a struggling newly promoted side, Newcastle need to show they can deal with one of the so called lesser sides before stiffer tests against Villa on Boxing Day, Man United at Old Trafford in the final game of the year and then Spurs away to kick off 2025.
When asked about getting the mental side of it right, Howe told Chronicle Live: “It is interesting that you bring that up (Luton).
“We have been working back to this time last year and discussing certain games. Certain games around this period were actually a difficult moment for us.
“I don’t know you can build it up too much in terms of the mentality. It should be the same in every game regardless of our opponent.”
(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Reflecting on what that mentality should be exactly Howe, said: “We just need our players to play with freedom and expression. Of course, they need to approach and play the game in the right way that goes without saying.
“If you don’t with any opponent you can be beaten. But I think we are in a good moment and we need to roll that into our next game and for us to be at our best.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-hold-festive-inquest-30632612
