From the blood and thunder of their Carabao Cup run to the thud and blunder of their Premier League form, Newcastle are in danger of blowing a hole in their own season. That thud is manager Eddie Howe banging his head against the dressing-room wall.
For his team of late, the ceiling is high but the floor is low. Saturday’s performance at Manchester City felt subterranean, even. Captain Bruno Guimaraes called them ‘lazy’ after a 4-0 defeat, and this from a side who, at their best, buzz like bees around honey.