Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has suggested there's not just one reason for his side's dip in form this month after they suffered a rare home defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
Newcastle have been imperious at St James' Park in 2023 with only three league defeats in 19 home matches before their clash with Forest.
Two of those losses came against Liverpool with Arsenal the only other side to have beaten Newcastle on their home turf.
But Howe's side have been going through a rocky patch in recent weeks and that dip in form continued on Boxing Day at home to Forest.
Eddie Howe refused to blame his players
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Alexander Isak gave Newcastle the lead from the spot midway through the first half, but Chris Wood equalised on the stroke of half-time and the former Magpies striker made it a hat-trick after the break.
Newcastle were unable to find a way back in the match from then in with Newcastle now losing four of their last five league games.
Howe appeared to indicate the hectic fixture schedule had hampered his side with little time to work on training in between matches.
But the Englishman also couldn't pick out on main issue that has been holding Newcastle back in recent weeks.
He said: "I don't think there's one reason. I think it's a whole combination of things as to why we've not been at our best.
"It was a difficult afternoon. We didn't deal with the transitions very well.
"In that first half we could have made it 2-0 but we were made to pay for it."
He added: "I don't think we were far away today. We need to train properly for perhaps the first time in months."
Chris Wood scored all three goals for Nottingham Forest
PA
"I am already analysing what happened today and as always we look to improve. Hopefully we get some training time now."
Newcastle could now find themselves even further adrift of the top-four places by the end of the week.
They missed out on a chance to momentarily move ahead of West Ham in the table and both Brighton and Manchester United could now leapfrog above Howe's side.
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Eddie Howe was dejected at full-time
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It doesn't get any easier for Newcastle either as their first match of 2024 is an away trip to Anfield.
That's followed up by a Tyneside derby in the FA Cup third round before Newcastle host defending champions Manchester City.
