It’s not steady under Eddie

THE revival of Newcastle under manager Eddie Howe and the cash-rich Saudis is, so far, a desert mirage.

Promise on the horizon that stays just out of reach.

A second win of the season within just two minutes from being sealed here... only for last-gasp defensive frailty to be exposed again.

Not so steady, Eddie.

There were brief boos at the final whistle. Howe threw down his water bottle, a rare public show of emotion and frustration.

He took Bournemouth down. Newcastle next?

Just 68 days into his reign, three months since the Saudis took over, £37million spent on two new players so far.

And still Newcastle’s only win of the season is thanks to a goalkeeping mistake by Burnley.

Howe has found turning round the Saudi oil tanker heading for the rocks is painful.

Kieran Trippier branded this a “must-win game” in the match programme, against relegation rivals.

It just isn’t happening.

Even with Allan Saint-Maximin, one positive legacy of Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce, producing individual brilliance to put them ahead after 49 minutes with their first shot on target.

It was the French winger’s fifth of the season, already his best tally in his three campaigns on Tyneside.

This was Howe’s 10th game in charge in all competitions this season, the same as Bruce before his sacking.

There has been a debate about how much impact

Howe’s actually had.

It’s one win, three draws, six points gathered for Howe. Eight goals scored, 21 conceded.

For comparison Bruce was winless, with only five draws, 10 scored and 19 leaked. To the eye, Newcastle under Howe (above) are on the front foot, don’t sit back waiting for pressure, look fitter, more tenacious.

But their energy also wanes late in games.

These days Geordie fans search for positives, desperate for a shift from the stagnation of earlier in the season under Bruce.

Imagine if Ashley and Bruce had signed Chris Wood from Burnley.

Of whether Bruce had gone into this clash with a team, like Howe’s, who had only scored four times in the last eight games.

The club also remains buoyed by the relentless optimism of the Geordie fans whose enthusiasm for their club is inversely proportional to their league position, or recent results.

At this stage of a relegation battle, you’d expect moaning from the terraces and a hollow feeling of a club on the wane.

But unlike rivals, the Toon have hit the reset button, in the boardroom, dugout and in the mood of the supporters.

The build-up to every home game is like a celebration of the release of going to the match on a Saturday.

Flags wave in the Gallowgate End, players heralded by a roar. Flagging players lifted by a chorus of ‘Eddie Howe’s Black and White Army’, with 10 minutes to go.

Howe’s men can have no complaints about the encouragement in adversity they are receiving. That bond will not last forever.

Defeat in the FA Cup to Cambridge at home… and now failing to win against fourthbottom rivals.

Newcastle are going down, aren’t they?

There were brief boos at the final whistle. And Howe threw down his water bottle, in a rare public show of frustration