Eddie Howe wore the look of a man whose worst fears were finally upon him.
Newcastle United had defied logic to keep going despite their injury crisis as if carried forward by momentum, willpower and the roar of the Geordie faithful but it was simply unrealistic to keep it going.
The damage was going to catch up with them eventually and it has. Tottenham's four-goal haul could easily have been heavier against their weary visitors who conceded three just five days earlier at Everton.
'A difficult afternoon,' admitted Howe as he digest the defeat at Spurs which leaves his team seven points adrift of the top four.