The 85 goal worry at Newcastle United as Eddie Howe admits team going through 'difficult period'

Newcastle United banged in 85 Premier League goals last season on their way to a seventh-placed finish.

But Eddie Howe has, for the first time, admitted his current Newcastle team are enduring a "difficult" episode this season after failing to score from open play in a full month. The ugly statistic in full reads six hours 44 minutes without scoring from open play for Newcastle and Howe admits he is concerned about his side's lack of a clinical touch.

The Magpies also slipped to ninth place in the Premier League on Monday night after old boy Chris Wood bagged the winner for Nottingham Forest against Crystal Palace. Ahead of the game against Chelsea on Sunday, Howe is confident his team will be rewarded if they keep trying the same things.

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Howe said: "We are going through that spell where we are not scoring. That is always a difficult period for any team. The positive is we have been creating chances. We had the moments and maybe in previous games we haven't had those opportunities.

"I always believe if you continue to create you will get your rewards. And I think that is what we have to work towards."

Howe was seething by aspects of the 1-0 home defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion, simply because the result was avoidable. It was United's first dent at home since January 2024 when Man City ran out 3-2 winners at St James' Park.

But after the dust settled Howe had to take more of a sympathetic approach with his stars and got them back on the training field this week. He said: "We can't feel sorry for ourselves. "We have to get on with it on the training ground and focus on those big games."