Howe pleased with players effort after ‘tough run of fixtures’ | OneFootball

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe praised the efforts of his players after a “really tough run of fixtures” despite falling to a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men was Newcastle’s sixth match in February, which involved a trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

City took the league through Nico O’Reilly, but the Magpies responded strongly and were rewarded when Lewis Hall fired a shot into the bottom right corner via a deflection from Rayan Ait Nouri. However, O’Reilly headed in his second of the match soon after, and despite constant Newcastle pressure in the second half, Howe’s side succumbed to defeat.

Although the result did not come for the Geordies, who remain in tenth in the Premier League table, the 48-year-old was proud of the effort shown by his players.

“A good effort from the lads today,” Howe said. “I thought, physically, it’s been not just a tough week, it’s been a really tough run of fixtures for us.

“I think the big thing for me is that every time we enter the pitch I want the players to empty, I want the players to give everything in the pursuit of winning. Can’t ask any more physically from the players today, that was us all out. 

“We played with a good style, I thought, a good, clear plan. The players executed it really well, bar a couple of moments. The two goals I don’t think we defended well enough, we made individual errors. 

“I thought we chased the game really well in the second half because it’s a really tough thing to do here against this team. But I’m pleased with the efforts that the players gave.”