MARSEILLE, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 25: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Olympique de Marseille and Newcastle United FC at Stade de Marseille on November 25, 2025 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
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At home, Newcastle United is a force of nature. St James’ Park is one of the toughest places for away teams to visit in the Premier League. This was proved on Saturday as Manchester City suffered a bruising 2-1 defeat to Eddie Howe’s side. Away from St James’ Park, though, the Magpies are a completely different proposition.
In eight league games away from home this season, Newcastle has won just once. Tuesday’s loss to Marseille continued a trend that is well established at this point. Howe’s team has lost all of its last four games on the road to Brighton, West Ham, Brentford and Marseille.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 25: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang #97 of Olympique de Marseille controls the ball against Nick Pope #1 of Newcastle United FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Olympique de Marseille and Newcastle United FC at Stade Velodrome de Marseille on November 25, 2025 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
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Tuesday’s loss at the Stade Velodrome was particularly painful due to Newcastle taking the lead against its Ligue 1 opponents. The Premier League side couldn’t hold on, allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to bag a brace in the space of just four minutes at the start of the second half.
“That was particularly painful,” said Howe. “We’d worked ourselves into a strong position but 10 minutes at the start of the second half cost us. It’s a big disappointment because we played so well in the first half. There’s a big feeling of frustration. We dealt well with the hostile atmosphere but we didn’t react well to their first goal. It was a concentration lapse. We’re bruised but we’ll come back better.”
Newcastle United’s Sven Botman (left) and manager Eddie Howe appear dejected after the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday November 9, 2025. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
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The most confusing thing about Newcastle’s away form is how starkly different it is to the spirit of its performances at home. At St James’ Park, the Magpies play with intensity. They have energy all over the pitch. On the road, though, Newcastle is frequently insipid and mentally fragile.
This season so far has been a challenging one for Newcastle. The Magpies are slumped in the bottom half of the Premier League table having won just four of their opening 12 fixtures. The summer transfer window was difficult as Alexander Isak departed the club and it’s possible some of that has bled into the 2025/26 campaign itself.
Nick Woltemade has settled in well following his summer switch from Stuttgart, but the German international is a very different sort of centre forward to Isak. Anthony Gordon has taken a step backwards in his development while Newcastle hasn’t always found its attacking verve over the course of the season so far.
There’s still a long way to go for Newcastle to find its best form away from home. The session is still young. However, the longer these struggles continue, the more Howe and his players will be questioned. The Magpies haven’t been able to find a way to cope without home comforts.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/grahamruthven/2025/11/26/whats-behind-newcastle-uniteds-dreadful-away-form/
