Eddie Howe apologises to Newcastle fans after Bruno Guimaraes expresses embarrassment following Sunderland derby defeat at St James’ Park

Eddie Howe didn’t try to dress it up.

After watching Newcastle stumble through a lifeless Wear–Tyne derby, the manager fronted up and admitted the performance simply wasn’t good enough.

For a club that prides itself on energy and ambition, this one cut deep — especially given the stakes and the opponent.

One Moment, One Goal, One Big Problem

The match itself turned on a cruel twist just after the break.

Less than a minute into the second half, Nick Woltemade inadvertently nodded the ball into his own net, handing Sunderland the lead.

From there, the home side shut the door with surprising comfort.

Newcastle, despite enjoying spells of possession, mustered just two shots on target and rarely looked like forcing their way back.

Howe Faces the Fans — and the Facts

Howe was quick to apologise to the travelling supporters, acknowledging that what they saw didn’t meet the club’s standards.

He pointed out that defensively Newcastle were largely solid in a game that offered few clear chances.

But in the areas that mattered most, they fell well short.

The manager admitted his side struggled badly to break Sunderland down, prompting early changes as Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga were withdrawn before the hour mark.

The issue, Howe stressed, wasn’t effort — it was quality and decision-making when it counted.

A Toothless Attack Under the Microscope

For long stretches, Newcastle looked blunt going forward.

Howe conceded that his team posed little threat in the opening hour, with promising positions wasted by poor passes or wrong choices.

The opportunities were there, he felt, but the execution simply wasn’t.

It was a frustrating watch for fans and players alike — plenty of work without the cutting edge required in a derby, where moments often matter more than patterns.

Bruno Guimaraes Pulls No Punches

Captain Bruno Guimaraes didn’t hide his emotions afterwards.

Angry, embarrassed and visibly fed up, he delivered a brutally honest assessment of Newcastle’s display.

According to him, the basics were missing — no real crossing, no sharp passing, no shots of note.

He made it clear the squad knows it has more quality than Sunderland, but said they failed to play like the superior side.

For Guimaraes, the issue went beyond tactics: consistency, mentality and competitiveness all fell short of what a derby demands.

Losing the Battle as Well as the Ball

One of Guimaraes’ biggest frustrations was Newcastle’s failure to match Sunderland’s direct approach.

Long balls, physical contests and second balls defined the game — and Newcastle didn’t rise to it.

In a derby, he said, you have to compete first. On this occasion, they didn’t.

The verdict was stark: the fans deserved much more, and the players know it.

What’s Next?

There’s little time to dwell on the disappointment.

Newcastle now turn their attention to a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Fulham in just a few days.

Both Howe and Guimaraes were clear on one thing — the response has to be immediate.

After a derby defeat that will linger in the memory for all the wrong reasons, winning is the only way forward.