‘I have to be honest’: Shaka Hislop now ‘really concerned’ about what’s happening at Newcastle

It’s difficult to know what to make of Newcastle United’s defeat against Brighton.

In isolation, any team can squander good chances and lose the game on the counter. Still, that would be a generous interpretation as to what happened at St James’ Park, a result which adds to the confusion about Newcastle this season.

Indeed, Eddie Howe’s side have played much worse at times and still won the game, namely against the likes of Southampton, Tottenham and Wolves.

While it’s true that better finishing in the opening 35 minutes or so would have surely seen Newcastle take the game away from a Seagulls side who looked there for the taking, the momentum stopped after that.

Though the Newcastle United manager saw his side carve out chances, they did so with little conviction in the final third.

They played well, they missed chances, they conceded and then they huffed and puffed without creating much in the way of genuine danger.

Watching on, former Newcastle goalkeeper Shaka Hislop expressed his concern.

Shaka Hislop concerned about Newcastle United this season

Speaking to ESPN after the defeat, the former stopper said: “I am still pro Eddie Howe, but I have to be honest.

“I am really concerned about Newcastle and their fortunes this season. I just don’t feel that Newcastle that we have seen this season is good enough to compete for top six, let alone top four.

“I think they are a whole lot better than some of the teams lower down the table and that will show, but I just don’t feel they have the consistency and certainly which is worrying the quality to really threaten that top five, top six.”

Eddie Howe is demanding answers at Newcastle

Such were Newcastle’s problems in front of goal on Saturday, Howe is reportedly set to demand an inquest into exactly what is going on with his forwards.

Hopefully, Howe will change the dynamic at Chelsea on Sunday. Callum Wilson may be closing in on a return at last, while Harvey Barnes surely must be pushing for a start with both Isak and Anthony Gordon yet to really convince.

The options after a slow summer transfer window are of course limited but a change in approach might at least help freshen things up a bit. On Saturday’s evidence, it certainly needs to be.

If that doesn’t work, then perhaps Hislop’s warning about not being good enough for the top six may become more ominous…