A lot can change in 538 days. That Eddie Howe admitted Newcastle United's 1-1 draw against West Ham 'felt like a defeat' on Saturday shows you how far the Magpies have come since the sides last met at St James' Park. Newcastle actually lost the game that day after the hosts were thumped 4-2 by the Hammers in their opening fixture of the previous campaign.
It proved to be one of Steve Bruce's final home matches in charge on an afternoon where Freddie Woodman started in goal and Newcastle's back five was made up of Emil Krafth, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark, and converted wingers in Jacob Murphy and Matt Ritchie. Newcastle twice led that day yet, tellingly, conspired to lose the game, with Callum Wilson even going on to brutally admit his side were 'not fit enough'.
Bruce, who was already concerned by Newcastle conceding 'far too many' goals, spoke about how the black-and-whites 'didn't defend well enough' and gave the ball away in 'cheap areas'.
