Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe claimed he was relieved more than anything after going beyond Blackburn Rovers.
Make no mistake: Eddie Howe understands the importance of beating Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday evening.
‘Relief’ was the Newcastle United manager’s major reaction after penalty shootout drama prevented another humiliating cup elimination. You believe he was not the only one who felt relief rather than delight when Martin Dubravka’s penalty heroics saved the day at Ewood Park.
“Obviously, a lot was riding on today’s outcome, so I thought the players handled the situation brilliantly – the goalkeeper and outfield players who took the penalties,” Howe told reporters after the game. “It’s a pivotal time in our season. Hopefully, it will add some momentum to our season.”
In truth, the Magpies were far from their best throughout and may have deserved to be eliminated by their Championship opponents. John Eustace’s struggling second-tier team held their own throughout 120 minutes, forcing Dubravka to make many key stops before stopping two of Blackburn’s five penalty shots.
The reaction following Newcastle’s shoot-out victory has been fascinating, to say the least. One online publication’s title went significantly over the top when it claimed that Dubravka had ‘saved Howe from the sack’.
A quick check at social media, which is never a good idea, resulted in a naturally impulsive reaction to the outcome, performance, and howe.
While the former Bournemouth manager is not in danger of losing his job at St James’ Park, there is a sense that he and the club needed a win on Tuesday evening – and will likely need another in the quarter-finals.
His credit in the bank is frequently mentioned following a great first full season in command, but with the chips down after two competition exits and disappointing league results, that reserve may be depleted sooner than expected.
Many people were disappointed by Blackburn’s performance, and the bad aspects of the game may have outweighed the positive outcome. That leaves Howe in a precarious position.
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