Newcastle’s season may but worsen earlier than the aid of summer season, writes CRAIG HOPE, with Eddie Howe’s facet barely resembling a workforce in any respect in defeat to Bournemouth

Here is the good news for Newcastle – there are only five games to play. And here is the bad news – there are still five games to play.

Their season could yet get worse before the relief of summer, because it sure does not look like getting any better. At least they will go unbeaten through June. Right now, they are a team who have forgotten how to win. They are a team in need of leadership and players who take responsibility. In truth, they are barely a team at all.

The message from the top of the club earlier this month was that star players need to be sold to fund summer business. An honest admission but one that risked sucking the life from the remainder of this campaign. It has left Eddie Howe and his squad in purgatory and supporters enduring the hell of performances on the pitch. Their season is done and, mentally and physically, so are the players, some of whom will have eyes elsewhere.

The problem for Newcastle is that those eyes are rarely trained on the opposition goal, or opposition attackers. While they waited for things to happen, Bournemouth had players who made things happen. Their two goals were good, but Newcastle’s defending was bad.

Marcus Tavernier gave them a 32nd-minute lead when he ran beyond Tino Livramento to turn in a cross from Rayan, who had ran beyond Lewis Hall. It was weak defending.

Adrien Truffert scored Bournemouth’s winner to boost their hopes of European qualification

Eddie Howe’s side look like they have forgotten how to win and are lacking in leadership

Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead in the first half following weak Newcastle defending

William Osula equalised midway through the second half as the hosts enjoyed a lift inspired by the return of Bruno Guimaraes, on as a second-half substitute after two months out with injury, but even the presence of the captain could not reverse what felt like the inevitable, so prone are Newcastle to conceding late in games.

And so it was, in the 85th minute, that left back Adrien Truffert started and finished an attack during which he showed more energy and desire than anyone in black and white. When Evanilson’s headed knock-down landed in the goalmouth, Truffert was first to it. It was weak defending. Again. Combine that with what felt like a refusal to shoot at the other end and it’s clear why Newcastle are struggling. Nothing is functioning as it should be, or how it has done historically under Howe.

There was support for the manager from the stands during the game, but there were also boos at the end of both halves. It will not, you suspect, be the last we hear of those this season.