Premier League:
SMB: sleeping
Magpies beaten

Newcastle  1  mackems  2

Derby delight turned to despair for Eddie Howe on Sunday, as he watched his side go in at the break a goal ahead, only to concede twice during a meek second half performance that ended in a deserved defeat by their local rivals.

Winless in their last five home derbies, Anthony Gordon became the first Magpie to open the scoring against the mackems here since Kevin Nolan in 2010 on 10 minutes.

Nick Woltemade - restored to the side in midfield after Sandro Tonali was ruled out - caught out Luke O'Nien in his own box and superby set up United's number 10 to net.

The early domination of the hosts failed to translate into more goals or efforts on target however - Anthony Elanga firing into the side netting and Sven Botman heading Lewis Hall's centre from the left off the goal frame.

At the other end Aaron Ramsdale blocked a 24th minute effort from distance by Chemsdine Talbi, as the visitors belatedly began to get a foothold in the game.

Although surviving the post-interval sluggishness, the enforced replacement of Botman in accordance with concussion protocols would fatally unsettle United.

Within three minutes of Malick Thiaw arriving, the mackems levelled when Ramsdale's weak punch ended up with the lively Talbi planting the ball into the Leazes End net.

A triple switch soon after brought some life into the ailing home side, Jacob Murphy quickly testing a nervy Melker Ellborg, who unconvincingly conceded a corner.

The black and whites then thought that they'd regained the lead when a 76th minute corner from the right was headed home by Thiaw at the near post - only for a VAR review to quickly establish a foul by Murphy on the goalkeeper - he may also have been in an offside position.

Worse was to come, as Brian Brobbey forced the ball over the line from close range at the second attempt in the final seconds of normal time to win it for the blue-clad visitors.

Victories for the mackems, Brighton and Fulham over the weekend saw all three sides leapfrog Newcastle, who now head into the international break in twelfth position.

This display and result were quite literally indefensible.

Regardless of the effects of their midweek trip to Spain, to be playing second fiddle to their local rivals for the second time in three months is unacceptable.

Once again United were out fought, out-run and ultimately overcome. The lateness of the winner may sting, but much of what preceded it meant their second goal was no surprise - for us to collect a point here would have been generous.

That's a damning indictment given how comfortable things had seemed at the break after being gifted a goal by an awful side in terrible form with just eight away goals in fifteen and a half matches on their top flight return.

45 minutes later though that that become ten away goals and the hosts were left to contemplate a seasonal league high tally of 22 points tossed away from winning positions.

To have posted another two horrendous second half non-performances in five days suggests that the current squad are physically and mentally shot.

The former was inevitable given the unrelenting nature of our fixture list: this was our 27th game since losing on wearside, the mackems were playing their eighteenth.

It's also becoming harder and harder to paper over the cracks when players are missing, misfiring or untrusted.

We may have banished the quirk of failing to win a league game without Bruno Guimaraes, but without his goals, assists and sheer determination we're a shabby outfit.

Reworking this season's league table without his late winners etc. doesn't make for great reading....

The mentality factor is less excusable and more worrying for a side that before this season was famously founded on and applauded for spirit and fortitude.

There was precious little of that on show here today though, despite the gravity of the occasion. As Ruud Gullit found out to his cost, this isn't just another game.

Only those in the dressing room know why that spirit has ebbed away; only they can do something about it. As to whether Howe can rectify it, he certainly couldn't here. 

Full match report to follow.

Team: Ramsdale, Trippier (Livramento 65), Hall, Botman (Thiaw 54), Burn, Joelinton, Ramsey, Woltemade (Willock 65), Barnes (Osula 76), Elanga (J.Murphy 65), Gordon (Wissa 89). Subs n/u: A.Murphy, Neave, Pope.

Booked: Joelinton.

Joelinton's ninth PL caution of the season came in the 31st game. If he isn't booked against Crystal Palace, he'll avoid a two game suspension and the threat of a ban will expire.  

Goal: Gordon 10.

smb: Ellborg, Hume, Geertruida, O'Nien, Alderete, Xhaka, Sadiki, Diarra (Le Fee 85), Rigg, Talbi (Mandava 90+3, Brobbey (Mayenda 90+3)
Subs n/u: Cirkins, Isidor, H.Jones, J.Jones, Moore, Mukiele. 

Booked: Hume, Alderete, Brobbey, Geertruida, Sadiki, Mandava.

Goals: Talbi 57, Brobbey 90.

Crowd: 52,253 including 2,528 away fans - a reciprocal ticket allocation for both derby games was agreed.

Referee: Anthony Taylor - third PL outing of the season for the official from very near Manchester, following on from the 0-1 loss at Old Trafford and 2-1 victory at Spurs.

VAR: Paul Howard.

Eddie Howe said:

"Very painful. Most of all, painful for supporters. They're the ones I think about now.

"Once you haven't performed and you know the size of the game and you don't deliver, you expect to be criticised and you understand why. I understand the reaction at the end (his team were loudly booed off).

"We haven't done our jobs well enough today and we're desperately disappointed in ourselves.

"I'm fully committed to the job. I'm disappointed in my delivery today and my delivery in the last week.

"The Barcelona game was very tough, today was even tougher. As I said after the Brentford game, I absorb that blame myself. I don't look to deflect it anywhere and I certainly won't deflect it to my players.

"I protect my players until my last breath. That's how I look at it and it's going to be a tough, painful few days for me.

"We missed our midfielders that would give us that control and that technical delivery - Bruno (Guimaraes), Lewis Miley and Sandro (Tonali). Missing all three of those players left us slightly unbalanced.

"That was the main consequence of that poor technical delivery, we lost the control of the game we had in that first half.

"Then the game became transitional. We're slightly fatigued, then we look even more tired and then we make more mistakes. My first thought is to point at the technical delivery.

"We made the game too much like they wanted it and that didn't help us.

"It's very easy to look at all bad, but I don't think we're too far away. Our recent form has been inconsistent. It's been patchy - it's been patchy all season.

"We've had good bits, we've had bad bits. I felt, all along, that we've steadily got a bit better than we were early season.

"Probably the progress hasn't been as quick as I'd have wanted it to be. But some of the fixtures we've had, particularly in recent weeks, have been unrelenting for us.

"It's an incredible amount of points (wasted this season) and there's huge regret from us on that.

"Certainly from my side, there's no part of me that ever wants to take the lead, then sit on a lead. The opposite.

"We want to go for more goals, that's always been in our psychology in coaching, to continue to attack, continue to be front foot, but we haven't been able to maintain that for whatever reason.

"We've become very passive, quite reactive and we were again today and that's a huge disappointment."

Stats:

Kieran Trippier made his 100th PL start for Newcastle.

Anthony Gordon scored his 24th PL goal for United, taking him level with Joelinton in the club's scoring charts for that competition. His next target is Michael Owen's total of 26.

United have now conceded 77 goals this season in their 51 league and cup games. Last season's total was 54 in 48 games, 2023/24 seeing them leak 73 in their 51 games.

smb @ SJP - Premier League era:

Sat 21.03.2026:
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Liverpool
Fulham 3-1 Burnley
Everton 3-0 Chelsea
Leeds United 0-0 Brentford

Sun 22.03.2026:
Newcastle 1-2 mackems
Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham
Spurs 0-3 Nottingham Forest

Latest:
SJP racism: clubs react

Referee Anthony Taylor stopped Sunday's derby for three minutes as per the PL on-field anti-discrimination protocol, which was initiated after reports of racist abuse from the crowd directed at visiting player Lutsharel Geertruida.

The incident happened early in the second half as United's Sven Botman was undergoing treatment for injury on the field and appeared to originate in the East Stand.

NUFC statement, Sunday:

"We are aware of a report of racism made by a visiting player against someone in the crowd during our Premier League match against Sunderland.

"Our stance is clear - we do not tolerate discrimination of any form.

"We will work with the authorities to fully investigate and will ensure any individuals are identified and held accountable."

SAFC statement, Sunday:

"We stand with Lutsharel, who has our complete backing, and we commend him for displaying bravery and leadership by reporting this incident to the match officials.

"Racism is completely unacceptable. It is abhorrent, and has no place in our game or in society.

"We acknowledge Newcastle United's statement and expect those responsible to be identified and held accountable.

"There can be no tolerance, no excuses, and no ambiguity when it comes to incidents of this nature.

"Football must be a safe and inclusive environment for everyone - without exception - and we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to support that aim."

Internationals:
Six Lions

Following the selection of Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento and Aaron Ramsdale by England coach Thomas Tuchel for two kickabouts, Monday brought saw that Magpie quintet increase to a sextet.

The addition is that of Harvey Barnes, receiving a first call-up since 2020 after Arsenal's Eberechi Eze was withdrawn.

International action:

Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Aaron Ramsdale (England):
Fri 27.03.2026 Uruguay (h) Wembley. FR.
Tue 31.03.2026 Japan (h) Wembley. FR.

Sandro Tonali (Italy):
Thu 26.03.2026 Northern Ireland (h) Bergamo. WCPO SF.
(Victory for Italy would see them face either Wales or Bosnia in a playoff final on Tue 31.03.2026).

Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes were omitted from in the Brazil squad for kickabouts against France and Croatia.

Update:
Fan appeal

The family and friends of Newcastle fan Kieran Gray are fundraising to help with medical costs, after he suffered a serious fall in Barcelona, causing severe head injuries.

More details can be found online here

U18s:
Teens toppled at Toffees

Everton U18s 4  Newcastle U18s  2

A youthful Magpies side were beaten for the first time in three league games on Saturday, conceding three goals in just nine first half minutes at Everton's Finch Farm base.

Having kept successive clean sheets, United goalkeeper Roman Dowell had to retrieve the ball from his net after 12 minutes when Jake Doughty shot home.

Jonathan Nsangou set up Charlie Stewart to fire a second for the Toffees five minutes later, before the roles were reversed on 20 minutes when Nsangou collected Stewart's pass before adding a third home goal.

Doughty's second arrived two minutes before the end of first half normal time, opening up a 0-4 deficit at the interval.

Newcastle's Sammy Pinnington then netted seven minutes after the restart before Ethan Ndiweni further reduced the arrears in the 63rd minute.

Newcastle ended the game with a trio of debutants from the U16s in the shape of Charlie Robinson, Chukwudi Afumuzor and Muawiya Ghanem.

Team: Dowell, Patterson, Morgan, Epia, Gilligan, Wooster (Afumuzor 90+12), Ndiweni, Pinnington, Hutchison (Robinson 83), Ferreira (Callaghan 62), Seldon (Ghanem 62).
Sub n/u: Anderson.

Booked: Gilligan

Premier League:
Sunday date for Eagles

The Premier League confirm that Newcastle's visit to Selhurst Park has been rescheduled from the previously advertised Saturday April 11th to Sunday April 12th.

The game now has a 2pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports.

That's due to Crystal Palace's progress to the last eight of the UEFA Conference League, with the first leg at home to Fiorentina on Thursday April 9th.

As per PL regulations, NUFC must offer refunds for anyone now unable to attend - details of that process and the anticipated resumption of ticket sales are awaited.

That's the first of four possible alterations to United games due to opposition cup commitments, in addition to any rescheduling for live TV:

Sun 22.03.2026 mackems (h) noon confirmed

Sun 12.04.2026 Crystal Palace (a) 2pm confirmed

Sat 18.04.2026 Bournemouth (h) 3pm confirmed

Sat 25.04.2026 Arsenal (a) 5.30pm
Would move to avoid a clash with the FA Cup SF on Sat 25.04.2026 or Sun 26.04.2026, if Arsenal defeated Southampton in their QF on Sat 04.04.2026.

For a new date, Arsenal face Sporting Lisbon in Champions League QFs on Tue 07.04.2026 and Wed 15.04.2026. Were they to progress to the CL SFs, that would then rule out weeks commencing Mon 27.04.2026 and Mon 04.05.2026.

The most likely scenario is that our Emirates visit would be during the week commencing Mon 20.04.2026 - the PL looking to play outstanding PL games that week, as per last season, when Palace's postponed game with Arsenal was played days before the Eagles were in FA Cup SF action.

Sat 02.05.2026 tbc Brighton (h) KO tbc
TV schedule for this weekend is due on 25.03.2026.

Sat 09.05.2026 tbc Nottingham Forest (a) KO tbc
Would move to avoid a clash with the Europa League SF if Forest won their QF against Porto on Thu 09.04.2026 & Thu 16.04.2026.

They would then play a SF second leg on Thu 07.05.2026, meaning we'd visit the City Ground on Sun 10.05.2026 tbc.

TV schedule for this weekend due Wed 01.04.2026. 

Sun 17.05.2026 tbc West Ham (h) 3pm tbc
Would move to avoid a clash with the FA Cup F on Sat 16.05.2026 if West Ham defeated Leeds United in their QF on Sun 05.04.2026 and progressed through a SF on or around Sat 25.04.2026.

For a new date, any midweek is theoretically possible, apart from week commencing 11.05.2026 as it preceded the F.

TV schedule for this weekend due Wed 08.04.2026 - only kick-off times can alter, all games are on Sun 17.05.2026.

Sun 24.05.2026 Fulham (a) 4pm confirmed
(all games kick off at the same time on final day).

PL2:
Playoff hopes diminish

Nottingham Forest U21s 3  Newcastle U21s  0

Match report

Champions League:
Shock of the Nou

Barcelona  7 (seven)  Newcastle  2

Match report

Unlikely lads:
Miller time for Lee

Premier League:
Tyne Bridge!

Chelsea  0  Newcastle  1

Match report

Update:
Magpin compo winners

On pre-sale from Magpin here is this brand-new badge featuring United's "great Dane", William Osula.

We had two to give away and asked which team Osula scored his first senior Newcastle goal against.

Most folks recalled that it was Bromley (in the FA Cup) and badges will be going to Richard Gates and Andy Virgo.

2026/27:
New season, new prices