Eddie Howe felt Newcastle have been dealt a “lesson” on the high quality margins of the Champions League as Borussia Dortmund handed the Magpies a primary defeat of their marketing campaign.
After a goalless draw at AC Milan and a 4-1 win over Paris St Germain final day trip, Newcastle have been introduced again all the way down to earth as Felix Nmecha’s managed end gave Dortmund a 1-0 victory.
On a rain-sodden night time at St James’ Park, Callum Wilson was denied by an excellent save from Gregor Kobel then the crossbar whereas Anthony Gordon’s deflected strike additionally got here off the objective body late on.
Newcastle, although, lacked some impetus as a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions got here to an finish, leaving them third in Group F, stage on 4 factors with Dortmund and two behind table-topping PSG.
“It was at all times going to be tight,” the Newcastle boss stated. “There are top-quality groups within the group. Tonight is a blow, particularly (shedding) at house. A lesson in how high quality the margins are going to be.
“The ball simply wouldn’t go in for us. It was a type of nights. Callum had the primary likelihood of the second half, that was a great one after which we hit the bar twice however simply couldn’t power it in.
“Credit score to the gamers, we by no means gave up, we stored doing the appropriate issues. We seemed like a objective menace. However now we have to be at our greatest to win and in the event you dip under that, it’s robust to get outcomes at this stage.
“Any mistake you make is liable to get punished. We made one and seconds later we conceded so there’s stuff we might have completed higher and once we analyse within the chilly mild of day, we’ll take lots.”
A return journey to Dortmund in a fortnight’s time might show instructive as as to if Newcastle will progress to the final 16 on their first look in Europe’s elite membership competitors in 20 years.
Their loss on Wednesday night time was compounded by Alexander Isak limping off 1 / 4 of an hour in with what seems to be a recurrence of a groin pressure whereas second-half substitute Jacob Murphy was withdrawn 5 minutes after his introduction with a suspected dislocated shoulder.
“You have a look at among the accidents, they’re fairly tough to get your head round however now we have to regulate,” Howe stated.
“We are able to’t analyse an excessive amount of, now we have to regroup the gamers. We’re nonetheless in an excellent place within the Premier League and Champions League.
“(The return sport in opposition to Dortmund) goes to be vastly vital. The following two away video games, the league desk seems very, very tight so they’re nice video games for us, now we have to strategy them like that.
“Our lads are very sincere and really targeted on attempting to win and obtain, there are some drained our bodies and now we have to recuperate for (the Premier League sport at) Wolves (on Saturday).”
Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic hailed the show of Nmecha, who settled the competition after exploiting some house on the sting of the realm and coolly slotting Nico Schlotterbeck’s cross past Nick Pope.
Nmecha, a former Manchester Metropolis teen, was signed by Dortmund from Wolfsburg in the summertime to fill the emptiness left by England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who left the Bundesliga membership for Actual Madrid.
“Felix is a superb participant and we find out about his potential and his expertise and we knew he might enhance our sport – he had a incredible sport,” Terzic stated.
“He lastly managed to attain, he had many alternatives within the first video games of the season. This was a special function, he performed extra attacking. He had a rocky begin in Dortmund and now he’s in good type.”
As for Howe’s feedback about Newcastle being given a lesson by Dortmund, Terzic responded: “That’s good to listen to however it’s simply half-time, we face one another in a few weeks.
“We deserved within the first half and guarded within the second half. We would have liked to be passionate, have some luck and a great goalie and we had all of that.”
