The issues at the back are just as alarming for Newcastle as their lack of goals.
If they fail to score in each of their opening three days this season, they can only return to a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to maintain a clean sheet to keep a clean sheet to keep a clean sheet against Assgan Claim, Leeds United and Bournemouth.
But Newcastle has since eight goals – in Brentford, Bruntford, Brentford, Brentford, Brentford and West Ham – and a team of removed giants in the end of GTECH.
After Sven Botman could only fly in Michael Kayode’s own goal, goalkeeper Nick Papa was at sea as Kevin Schade headed his side level.
The Guimares may have fought in the case of the referee stuart that Papa believed, but the goal rightly stood and Newcastle never got it.
Dan was useful before not giving a penalty – the first time around – after taking Dango Ouattara inside the area.
But rather than fire there and then – at a time when the 6ft 7in defender was on a yellow card – opted not to.
At the end of the hour Lewis Hall finally returned the stoppage, from the bench, his side 2-1 followed by a stoppage in OWAgo, and Papa also stopped in an afternoon Joelinton also stopped.
Yet Newcastle’s defending only got worse.
Malick Thiaw failed to cut out Jensen’s through ball for Brentford’s third goal and the casual botman was too slow to slip the ball under the substitute’s ball.
It brought back memories of Newcastle’s display at GTECH at a similar stage last season, when the visitors were beaten.
This bruising loss ended up protesting a change, but no one suggested this side was about to embark on a Mighty Nine Game Winning Again.
They look far from that.
“We take full accountability for what we deliver and we can only change it,” Howe said.