Eddie Howe has admitted that Newcastle United's 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa may yet prove a 'good thing' because it reminds everyone of the 'fragility of performance' ahead of Sunday's huge game against Spurs.
Newcastle's five-game winning streak came to an abrupt end at Villa Park on Saturday after Jacob Ramsey and a double from Ollie Watkins fired Unai Emery's in-form side to a convincing win. It was just Newcastle's fourth league defeat this season and the first time the Magpies had been truly well beaten in the top-flight since the campaign got under way in August.
That is much-owed to the resilience of the group and these players have previously bounced back from painful losses. After the Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester United, for instance, Newcastle went on to win five of their next six matches.
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If you go back further, to last season, Newcastle won four games on the bounce after a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Spurs a year or so ago. Howe's side also immediately responded to a 5-0 defeat against City by defeating Arsenal just eight days later.
With a huge game to come against top four rivals Spurs at St James' Park on Sunday, Howe has no doubt that his players can rally once again.
"Of course," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "I'm not doubting the ability. I'm not doubting the commitment. I'm not doubting the attitude of the group that we have at all. We have all the ingredients.
"Sometimes, when these things happen, they can be a good thing because it just reminds everyone of the fragility of performance, really. It's a very fragile thing and you have to respect it at all times."
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