I’ve had very strong conversations with Eddie Howe but saw Newcastle boss silence Sunderland

In 31 days, a lot can happen. When Newcastle United were drawn against Sunderland, they had just defeated Manchester United, closing the gap on the top four to just a couple of points. Eddie Howe’s side were still in the Champions League, as well as the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

With so much at stake in December, it’s easy to see why the message around the training ground was to ‘park’ talk about the derby until the big day arrived. However, after a run of seven losses in eight games, this FA Cup third-round tie has taken on new significance.
A defeat is unthinkable for anyone involved, and the Geordies are feeling a strange knot in their stomach ahead of the first Wear-Tyne derby in over eight years. They can take solace in the fact that Howe has previously broken Sunderland hearts. Just ask Steve Cook, who was present at the Stadium of Light on the day Bournemouth were relegated.
“It was a bit of a funny atmosphere,” the former Cherries captain said of the 1-0 win in 2017. “As a player, you get a sense of what kind of atmosphere it’s going to be on the day even when you go out for a warm-up.”

“When we went there, the message was, ‘Just don’t give the crowd something to cling to.'” We knew we had to frustrate the crowd that day. When you go to Sunderland, you have to try to turn their crowd from being joyous, pumped, and strong-willed in our favour, and that’s exactly what we did.”

That is what Newcastle will look to do on Saturday, as these players get their first taste of the game and finally look to defeat lower league opposition in the FA Cup after previous heartbreaking exits against Sheffield Wednesday and Cambridge United. They’ve all played in big games before, but everyone in the camp has already told them that this is nothing like what they’ve seen.

That goes for Howe as well, though the Newcastle manager will have already done his homework after months of hoping to take charge of the game. Howe will not be shy about drawing on that history if his players need a reminder of the gravity of the situation.

“He has thrown himself into the culture of Newcastle,” Cook said in a statement. “He’s very calm and passionate about football and what it means to fans, and he carries that very well.”

“He understands how to motivate a group. He’s the type of manager who will delve into the history of the game and what it means to the city and Newcastle fans. He’ll make the players realise what they’re getting themselves into.He did an excellent job of it in Bournemouth, where there would be presentations. When we played Leeds, he recalled how Leeds fans trashed the Bournemouth town centre and how much it hurt the town at a time when the rivalry didn’t have much meaning. These types of rivalries were obviously not on the same level as this game, but the players knew how much it meant to the fans, so I have no doubt he will employ similar tactics.”

It’s a game with more at stake than just bragging rights. Howe could use a timely Wear-Tyne derby win to lift spirits as Newcastle attempts to beat Sunderland on their home turf for the first time since 2011. To put that in context, Howe had not even returned to Bournemouth for his second spell in charge when Newcastle last won the game.
But Howe did, and Cook was among those who benefited and reached new heights as the former Bournemouth manager led his team from League One to the Premier League less than three years later. There are a few parallels, and it has not escaped Cook’s notice how a number of players Howe inherited at a winless Newcastle side in relegation trouble went on to shine on the grandest stage of all – the Champions League – even if recent weeks have been the Newcastle manager’s most difficult yet.

“The way he changed me as a player and a person is very similar to what he seems to be doing with individuals in that Newcastle team,” he said. “He’s the type of guy you don’t want to let down.

“He has a lot of faith in his players.” Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been on the receiving end of some very strong conversations and comments, but you accept that because you respect him so much and go out and give your all and end up being better for it.”

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