Man Utd PL2 clash stopped due to drone issuepublished at 14:31 BST
14:31 BST
Simon Stone Manchester United reporter at Leigh Sports Village
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Referee Melissa Burgin explains to Newcastle coach Robbie Stockdale why she has stopped the Premier League 2 clash with Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village
Manchester United's Premier League 2 clash with Newcastle at Leigh Sports Village was stopped for three minutes due to an unidentified drone flying over the stadium.
Referee Melissa Burgin stopped the game, which Newcastle won 3-1, in the second half, with the players going to the side of the pitch, before being told it was safe to continue.
She then briefly stopped the match again later in the contest but play quickly resumed.
Drones have been spotted above Leigh Sports Village previously when United's youngsters have been playing but this was the first instance of a match being stopped because of it.
Despite losing their final regular season game, Manchester United still finished second in the table, ensuring home matches up until the final, depending on how far they progress in the end of season play-offs.
It completed a bad week for Adam Lawrence's side, who were beaten by Real Madrid at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup.
Shea Lacey was not involved against Newcastle and midfielder Jack Fletcher was one of three players taken off at half-time after he needed treatment following a hefty collision into an advertising hoarding just before half-time.
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 13:03 BST
13:03 BST
Matt Jones BBC Sport journalist
Newcastle United need to inject some impetus into their toiling season on Sunday when they visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (14:00 BST) in the Premier League.
The Magpies have had three weeks to stew on their loss to bitter rivals Sunderland last time out. Eddie Howe's side have struggled for consistency this season, yet they remain just four points off the top seven going into the final stretch of top-flight games.
As for Palace, with Premier League safety virtually secured, their focus is on European competition - on Thursday they beat Fiorentina 3-0 at home in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final.
Palace priorities elsewhere?
There have been times this season when Palace's campaign has threatened to spiral out of control. But their depleted squad and departing head coach Oliver Glasner have just about kept things together.
The Eagles have a genuine shot at European glory in the Conference League, and that in turn would mean Europa League football next season. So it would be no surprise if Glasner's focus was mainly on the second-leg in Florence on Thursday.
Palace have found it hard to juggle their European and domestic commitments this campaign. They have only won one of their nine Premier League games that have immediately followed a Conference League clash.
That one success - against Wolves in Februrary - was also a rare one for the home crowd to enjoy - their only victory in the past 10 at Selhurst Park. Only Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur - both two - have fewer home wins this season than Palace's three.
A huge weakness for them in 2025–26 has been dealing with set pieces, and Newcastle do not represent an appealing match-up on that front.
Palace have conceded 43% of their Premier League goals this term from non-penalty set-pieces (15/35), which is the highest ratio of any side. Only Arsenal and Manchester United have scored more non-penalty set-piece goals than Newcastle in the same period.
Newcastle in need
At times, this season has promised plenty for Newcastle. But now it is on the brink of fizzling out.
The week before the recent break was billed as a huge one for the Magpies, and while it started well with a win at Chelsea, it quickly unravelled with a hammering by Barcelona and an agonising late loss to Sunderland.
With that in mind, the break may have come at a good time for the Newcastle squad. The same can be said for their manager Howe, who has been subject to increased scrutiny as the season has rolled on.
The Magpies boss is on the brink of a significant landmark at St James' Park, as he closes in on the number of wins accrued by legendary figures Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan.
Reaching the top of that list will count for little for Howe if Newcastle do not secure European football by the end of the campaign though you suspect.
Having struggled away from home earlier in the season, Newcastle may welcome a fixture away from St James' Park, where they have lost six of their past 10 matches in all competitions.
On the road, Newcastle's overall record leaves a lot to be desired, but there were signs of improvement before the Barcelona mauling, having won four of their previous five away matches.
'You've let people down' - Howe not looking too far aheadpublished at 16:24 BST 10 April
16:24 BST 10 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Nearly three weeks had passed, but the scars of the Tyne-Wear derby defeat were still evident as Eddie Howe spoke.
"You certainly don't go home from that game and move on quickly," the Newcastle United head coach said.
"You know the importance of the game. You have a feeling you've let people down and there's going to be consequences from the result."
This was the first time Howe held a pre-match news conference since that damaging loss against bitter rivals Sunderland, which followed a 7-2 hammering at the hands of Barcelona.
It was also his first sit-down with reporters since chief executive David Hopkinson revealed he did not have a stance on Howe's future, before stressing the club were "not looking to make a change at the moment".
Howe did not appear unduly flustered by those comments and made it clear that nothing had changed from his perspective.
But it was what the head coach did not say which was as intriguing.
"In this day and age, it's difficult to look too far into the long-term," he said. "I can only look at these seven games."
Rather than going too in-depth into the summer, and what the future could bring, Howe's focus was on Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace and the run-in.
Howe and his staff went into "analytical mode" during the international break and savoured the luxury of working with as many as 20 senior players this week for the first time since August
The Newcastle head coach has previously thrived with the benefit of increased training time with his players - ending the club's 70-year wait for silverware by winning the EFL Cup last season and qualifying for the Champions League in 2025 and 2023.
As a relentless schedule eases, Howe needs no reminding of the importance of the run-in as Newcastle look to mount a late push for a European place.
"Pride is at stake," he added. "We want to do our supporters proud in these last seven games. We want to go right until the end of the season."
Howe on Guimaraes injury, summer transfers and expectationspublished at 10:39 BST 10 April
10:39 BST 10 April
Holly Bacon BBC Sport journalist
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Howe admitted, on reflection, that the break came at a good time for Newcastle. He added: "At the time I probably felt we wanted to play as soon as we could but I think it gave the players a chance to detach."
The Newcastle boss said Bruno Guimaraes will be out for the trip to Crystal Palace and could miss the Bournemouth game. Howe said he has "suffered from mumps on his return from Brazil so that has delayed his return."
Howe said Fabian Shar won't return for "around a month" after suffering an infection in his foot which he has had a small operation on.
On the injury situation Howe added: "On everybody else we're pretty good. Lewis [Miley] has trained and trained well so that has been a great thing for us to see because we've missed him massively. Then of course you had Sandro [Tonali] who played during the international break anyway, with his injury after the Sunderland game, and others are in a good place."
On his future Howe said his "100 per cent commitment" to the job has "never wavered". He added: "I've been working during the break to make sure we come back a stronger team. I think in this day and age it's very difficult to look too far in the long term. I can only look to these seven games and make sure we perform at our very best level and make sure the players are ready for these games."
Howe said he has had good support from CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson and that they are "plotting to try and take the club forward in the smartest way possible".
He said they'll be "as ready as they can be" for the summer which is "very difficult to predict".
On the prospect of more of their best players may being sold Howe said: "If that's the reality and I'm not saying it is - David will know more than me on that - then that is the reality. I have no issue working with the conditions that the club set and finances dictate."
He added: "I've never had an issue with that all through my career so as long as that's made clear to everybody on the outside and the expectations are aligned within that because I don't think you can have expectations that warp reality, everything has to be aligned for the players to enter the pitch and play in their best place where they're relaxed and not under undue pressure."
On chasing a spot in Europe, the Newcastle boss said: "If there is a carrot for us it's European places potentially going down and the gap is small between us and the teams ahead of us so that is a big thing for us to try and chase down."
Finally on Kieran Trippier's departure at the end of the season Howe said: "For me he goes down as one of the best players that's played for me in my time here. He deserves to go with all the plaudits."
'We want to keep fighting for Howe'published at 08:48 BST 10 April
08:48 BST 10 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
A late push for Europe would put a different complexion on a bruising domestic campaign.
But Newcastle must go on a run to do so, which they have failed to do all season.
When Anthony Elanga openly asked whether the dressing room could show they were fighting for the head coach "again, again and again", in a previous interview with BBC Sport, the forward was alluding to his side's inconsistency.
"We want to keep on fighting for him because he's helped us so much," he said.
"I'd even go as far to say he is one of the best managers I've worked for. I'm really grateful to have him as a manager and I try to take everything he says to me on board because I know it's for my benefit.
"I know he will help me so much. All the players feel the same."
Yet you never quite know what you are going to get from Howe's team this term.
Just as Newcastle can beat Manchester United with 10 men and record a rare win at Chelsea, this leaky side can also capitulate and concede seven goals in the Nou Camp or throw away a half-time lead against Sunderland.
All in the same month.
Is there mitigation for the ups and downs of a campaign where Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League and a third EFL Cup semi-final in four years, but also suffered 13 Premier League defeats?
Even as far back as the autumn, there was a belief internally there would be choppy waters to navigate following a turbulent summer.
Newcastle missed out on a host of top-choice targets, buckled and eventually sold star striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day and tackled a crucial window without a chief executive and sporting director in place.
Also, whereas the so-called 'big six' are used to fighting on multiple fronts, with deeper squads, this has been relatively uncharted territory for Newcastle, who have already played 51 games this season.
Such has been the relentless nature of the schedule, there has been a feeling within the camp that they "can't breathe" at times.
Fear, anger or excitement - how are Newcastle fans feeling?published at 17:10 BST 9 April
17:10 BST 9 April
The Premier League's return this weekend brings trepidation for some and excitement for others.
Football's emotional rollercoaster becomes intense at this time of year, unless of course mid-table mediocrity has taken a grip of things in recent months.
So how are you feeling as a Newcastle fan with just a handful of weeks left to go?
The league form reads: WLLWWL
The next three league fixtures are: Crystal Palace (a), Bournemouth (h) and Arsenal (a)
Another testing summer to comepublished at 09:58 BST 9 April
09:58 BST 9 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Those at the top remain behind Eddie Howe.
Chief executive David Hopkinson was hardly unequivocal in his backing last week and made it clear he expected a strong finish to the campaign.
But the Canadian stressed Newcastle were "not having those conversations" about a change of manager "at the moment".
With Newcastle estimated to have the eighth-highest wage bill in the top flight, whether or not the club are getting enough bang for their buck would be a consideration when the season is reviewed after a £100m-plus net spend last summer.
Howe has credit in the bank, but the hierarchy have been vocal in their ambition to become one of the world's top clubs by 2030.
Change is already afoot elsewhere.
Last weekend's announcement that defender Kieran Trippier is leaving at the end the season felt like a sign of things to come.
Newcastle are gearing up for another busy summer and are preparing for separate scenarios in the transfer market, depending on whether they qualify for Europe or not.
If Newcastle fail to maintain their Champions League status, and lose out on the associated financial benefits, it is understood they will need to sell at least one - potentially two - prized assets in order to strengthen for the 2026-27 campaign.
Fifth Champions League spot secured for Premier Leaguepublished at 08:19 BST 8 April
08:19 BST 8 April
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League will have at least five teams in the Champions League next season after securing a European Performance Spot for the second straight year.
The extra place was confirmed on Tuesday as Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
Uefa awards an additional place to the two leagues with the best overall performance across the three European competitions.
The race for fifth place in the Premier League, currently held by Liverpool on 49 points, is exceptionally tight.
Just seven points separate Arne Slot's side from 13th-placed Bournemouth.
Chelsea (48) sit in sixth followed by Brentford (46), Everton (46), Fulham (44), Brighton (43), Sunderland (43), Newcastle (42) and Bournemouth (42).
If Aston Villa, who are fourth on 54 points, win the Europa League and finish outside the top four, the Premier League would have six teams in the Champions League.
The same logic applies to Liverpool, who face Paris St-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
If either win a European trophy and finish fifth, then sixth would qualify for the Champions League via the EPS place.
If both win European trophies and finish fifth and sixth, that would put seventh into the Champions League.
Nottingham Forest are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. They could emulate Tottenham by winning the competition and finishing in the bottom half of the table.
Just like last season, that would create a sixth team in the Champions League for the Premier League too.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have joined Newcastle in monitoring 21-year-old Italy defender Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta. (Teamtalk, external)
'Trippier, here are your (verbal) flowers'published at 08:25 BST 7 April
08:25 BST 7 April
Charlotte Robson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
This summer looks to be transformative for Newcastle United. Much hinges on how we fare through the last seven games and where we finish.
If we secure European football there might be less upheaval, but we're still looking at quite a bit of change in the squad alone.
Several players are out of contract, including Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth. We may yet see new contracts for those players, but this past week we had confirmation that another player out of contract will be leaving at the end of the season.
Kieran Trippier, here are your (verbal) flowers.
When Newcastle were taken over in 2021 we were, as fans, at an all time low. Howe came in and got straight to work, but he had to wait for a transfer window to open to plug any gaps he had identified at that time. So we waited until January, languishing in the relegation zone, wondering what might happen.
And then something we thought was impossible happened. It was announced that Kieran Trippier had agreed to join Newcastle from Atletico Madrid. Everything suddenly seemed possible. He started the new wave of signings; it's entirely likely that, had he not believed in the project at NUFC, we would not have subsequently signed Bruno Guimaraes.
What Trippier represents to Newcastle fans cannot be overstated. He captained us to our first domestic trophy in a generation. He personifies the new era at our club. He helped steady the ship.
In a lot of ways, I wish he could stick around the club forever. As a coach, as a talisman, as a legend. But what is so great about Trippier is that there is still so much more to come from him. If ever there was a way to leave a club with the respect and love of the fans, this was it. Thank you, captain.
'A proper Geordie' - your views on Trippier's time at Newcastlepublished at 12:21 BST 5 April
12:21 BST 5 April
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We asked for your views on Kieran Trippier announcing his departure from Newcastle United in the summer after more than four years at the club.
Here are some of your comments:
Andrew: Trippier has become a proper Geordie. He was, in my opinion, the best signing of the Staveley era, as it showed the intent of the club. I'm not sure Bruno and the others who followed would have come without him.
Howard: Tripps will be a huge miss. I hope that after his final years away somewhere that the Newcastle hierarchy realise how big he was here and offer him another role, in the academy or wherever.
Jim: Fantastic player for Newcastle. One of the leaders in the team and pushed the team when they slowed down. He will be remembered as one of the main players as Newcastle go through the transformation into one of the best teams in the league.
Graham: Trippier was a star appointment, which has only begun to dim during these past twelve months. Still a cut above most in the Premier League as a right-back, ever. Thank you, Tripps.
Barry: I think the time is right. The squad needs a rebuild and Kieran is at a point in his career where his best years are behind him, nevertheless, what a great signing he has been and what he has done for the club can not be overstated. I wish him all the best for the future.
Michael: Never forget Tripps! Been a fantastic player for us both as an individual and a leader since he came in at the beginning of the takeover. Selfishly, I'd like him to retire and stay on in a coaching role. Feel like he's got a lot to give once he does hang up his boots.
Mel: The best signing since Alan Shearer... he's been absolutely colossal for Newcastle United in every aspect. Good luck to him in his next venture.
Russell: Will he be missed? To put it simply... yes. Will be forever remembered as the first signing of the new era that took a risk and came to a relegation battle and led us to safety. A true leader on and off the pitch and personified the new era. Made himself a Newcastle legend and forever an honorary Geordie. Thanks for everything, Tripps!
Trippier to leave Newcastle - have your saypublished at 12:45 BST 4 April
12:45 BST 4 April
Image source, Getty Images
Kieran Trippier is to leave Newcastle United when the defender's contract expires this summer.
The right-back joined Newcastle from Atletico Madrid in January 2022 as the first signing following the club's takeover by a Saudi-led consortium.
Newcastle were in the relegation places at the time and Trippier has gone on play a crucial role in the club's resurgence under Eddie Howe.
The former England international helped his side end their seven-decade wait to win a major domestic trophy last season by lifting the EFL Cup, as well as playing his part in the club qualifying for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025.
In a joint statement, the 35-year-old announced he will be departing the club where he has "felt most at home" at the end of the season.
"It's emotional and I'm really going to miss it," he said.
"I want to say a massive thank you to the supporters for all the support through the good and the bad times for me personally. You've always supported me, always stood by me.
"To my team-mates, it's going to be emotional. It's been an amazing journey with you guys. I'm going to miss you all, but to win a trophy with you guys was really, really special - the best of my career."
So, what did you make of Trippier's time at St James' Park? Will his leadership be a big miss for Howe and the squad, or is it the right time to part ways?
'We always went for the killer goal - that was our undoing'published at 08:20 BST 3 April
08:20 BST 3 April
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Thirty years on from Liverpool beating Newcastle 4-3 in one of the Premier League's greatest ever matches, former Reds player Jason McAteer, former Magpies defender Steve Howey, the Anfield Wrap's Ian Ryan and the Athletic's George Caulkin join Alistair Bruce-Ball on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily to reflect on a true classic.
Despite going 1-0 down after two minutes, Newcastle led 2-1 just minutes later and almost immediately retook the lead to make it 3-2 after Liverpool's equaliser midway through the second half.
However, Stan Collymore scored twice against an open an expansive Magpies team, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner to spark the iconic image of then manager Kevin Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings, to ensure the Reds came out on top in the thriller.
"It was pretty much the same as it always was from Kevin which was telling us 'there's an awful lot of fans who have come here and paid to watch you play, go out there and entertain them'," Howey recalled.
"He always wanted us to send the fans home happy knowing that they have been entertained by a game.
"That was Kevin's philosophy from day one. If we conceded a goal it wasn't really an issue because we had such firepower.
"He had such belief the boys would get one. That was always our ethos.
"In this game, even though we went down 1-0 in the first two minutes, it wasn't an issue. We just knew we would be able to score and get goals back.
"When it got to 3-3 most teams would have sat and tried to take the point away from home but that wasn't us. We always went for the killer goal. That was our undoing and Collymore got the famous winner."
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