Eddie Howe urged to consider resigning after Barcelona thrashing with Sunderland derby looming | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has been urged to consider resigning after Newcastle’s 7-2 loss at Barcelona in the Champions League, with the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland imminent.

The defeat sealed an 8-3 aggregate exit, Newcastle’s heaviest reverse in a European knockout tie, after a competitive first half unravelled amid defensive errors. “A tough way to go out. Really strange to try and sum that up because first half, I thought we were excellent. Quite a lot of individual errors that have ultimately cost us. In the second half, we were nowhere near as good as the first. They deserved to go through,” he told TNT Sports.

Radio presenter Adrian Durham urged Howe to offer his resignation, describing the second half as a capitulation and questioning what was said at half-time in Barcelona.

Former striker Dean Ashton took a more measured view, arguing it would be the wrong moment to contemplate such a step with the derby so close, and saying Newcastle made it too easy for Barcelona.

Howe said the focus must switch immediately to Sunderland, adding: “Now it's all about Sunderland.” Newcastle lost 1-0 in December and he stressed the occasion’s importance, calling for a full blooded response for the city and supporters.

Source: Sunderland Echo