Eddie Howe must repeat Newcastle United trick to save his job - and history suggests he will

Newcastle United are stuck in a rut and the pressure is slowly beginning to build on Eddie Howe. It is now five games without a win in the Premier League for the north east side, who have fallen into the bottom half of the table and six points adrift of the top four.

The performances have improved in recent weeks but the results haven't followed. Instead, Newcastle are struggling to look anywhere near their best - and a crucial period of testing fixtures is on the horizon.

"I think you go through all types of cycles as a manager," Howe said after defeat at Chelsea. "You understand the difficult moments and you just have to ride through them knowing you'll come back again. The attitude of the players gives me the most heart and that is the most important thing."

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Howe has been here before during his time at Newcastle. A winless run of this ilk is not unusual and has happened in every single one of his previous seasons at St James' Park since he took over in 2021. Every time previously, he has weathered the storm and turned the tide at the other end.

Back when Howe took the helm it was not an easy start to life on Tyneside. His first victory against Burnley proved tricky to follow up and a festive period brought consecutive defeats to Leicester City, Liverpool and Manchester City, followed by a draw with Manchester United and a defeat to Cambridge United in the FA Cup third round saw the pressure massively.

A draw with Watford would follow before Jonjo Shelvey's free-kick at Elland Road was enough to beat Leeds United 1-0 and kickstart an impressive run of form that saw United pull clear of the drop.

It is easily forgotten but the beginning of the next season was equally painful. Yet Newcastle still managed to comfortably finish in the top four.

The 2022/23 campaign began with an opening day win against Nottingham Forest before draws against Brighton, Manchester City and Wolves. Newcastle then lost at Liverpool and drew with Palace and Bournemouth to make it six without a win.

Later in the campaign, around the time of the Carabao Cup final, there was a period of draws against Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bournemouth, along with defeats to Liverpool, Man City and also Manchester United in the Wembley showpiece.

Last term's festive period was frosty rather than fun as Newcastle were thrashed by Everton and Tottenham before crashing out of the Champions League against AC Milan. A win over 10-man Fulham papered over the cracks before a Carabao Cup exit to Chelsea and big league defeats to Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.

History shows five league games without a win is nothing new to Howe - and every time he has bounced back. Now, he faces a crucial period where he must once again turn the tables, starting with a win in the Carabao Cup against last year's tormentors Chelsea. The visit of Arsenal awaits before a trip to Nottingham Forest before the November international break.

By then we will know a lot more as to where Howe stands and whether he has once again steadied the ship after a bruising period.