Eddie Howe was in precisely the right place the other night to apply a little perspective to Newcastle’s difficulties, such as they are.
It feels peculiar to speak of ruts when their unbeaten streak of 17 is the longest of any club in Europe’s top five divisions. But there are two ways of looking at their current situation, which relates more directly to five draws in six league games and only three goals scored in that time.
One is to acknowledge the relative deficiencies of Tottenham, and thereby note that Newcastle have only been lightly punished for dropped points.