Newcastle United suffered a disheartening 3-2 home defeat against Brentford on Saturday, prompting a chorus of boos from the St. James' Park faithful at the final whistle. The loss marks a third straight defeat for the Magpies and extends their winless run in the Premier League to over a month, with their last victory dating back to January 7.

Eddie Howe, the Newcastle manager, took "full responsibility" for the team's performance, not shying away from the criticism following another disappointing result. "I've got to take full responsibility for everything you see on the pitch and I've got to work out solutions," Howe stated, acknowledging the pressure he places upon himself and the high standards he demands. He further emphasized the need for self-reflection and a commitment to finding solutions, while also calling on his players to meet the same high standards.

The game itself was a rollercoaster of emotions for the home crowd. Sven Botman scored his first goal since New Year's Day 2024, giving Newcastle an early lead. However, Brentford responded with goals from Vitaly Janelt and Igor Thiago, the latter from a penalty, to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Bruno Guimaraes, returning from injury, leveled the score with a penalty in the 78th minute, raising hopes of a comeback. But Dango Ouattara, marking his 100th Premier League appearance, dashed those hopes with a late winner for Brentford in the 85th minute.

The defeat highlights Newcastle's struggles in maintaining leads, having dropped a league-high 19 points from winning positions this season. This vulnerability has been a recurring theme, with the team dropping more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League this season. Only in the 2004/05 (31), 1999/00 (24) and 2021/22 (24) seasons have they dropped more in a single campaign.

Brentford's head coach, Keith Andrews, praised his team's "fearlessness" following their victory, which came just days after a 1-0 win against Aston Villa. Andrews highlighted the high standards within his squad and their belief that they can win against any team.

The loss leaves Newcastle sitting in 12th place in the Premier League. Their recent form has been concerning, with just one win in their last nine games in all competitions. The team now faces a challenging run of four successive away games in three different competitions.

Adding to the woes, fans may recall an incident from 2024 when Eddie Howe was booed for substituting Sandro Tonali during a match against Chelsea. This is reflective of the recent frustrations of Newcastle fans, and also shows the pressure that Howe is under to deliver results.

As Newcastle United look to turn their season around, Eddie Howe faces a significant challenge in addressing the team's vulnerabilities and regaining the confidence of the fans.