Newcastle United have made an indifferent start to the Premier League campaign with Magpies boss Eddie Howe admitting that performances have warranted a greater points haul at this stage of the campaign. The Toon have picked up seven points from their opening six games of the campaign, a respectable return when you cater in the two games against Manchester City and Liverpool.
A win on the opening day of the season has been followed up by four draws and one defeat. FiveThirtyEight’s supercomputer - which uses statistical information and detailed data analysis to calculate how the Premier League table will finish in May - thinks after a largely positive start to the campaign, the Magpies will finish in 8th place come the end of the season, on 53 points, seven adrift of Brighton in the final European spot.
Newcastle have been one of the in-form sides in the division since the turn of the year, but have not been able to turn draws into wins so far this season. There's no sign of panic from the black and white faithful with the general consensus in agreement that the club are heading in the right direction.
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Outsiders have backed the Magpies to finish in the European places and the supercomputer is expecting them to finish just outside of those places. The club has recruited well since the takeover and there's plenty of optimism on Tyneside this season.
Nonetheless, the Newcastle head coach is not resting his laurels. Speaking after the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Howe said: "No, I'm not happy with it. I want more points. I want to win every game. We were slightly fortunate to get a point from Brighton but against Wolves I thought we were the dominant team.
"Today I felt we were the more dominant team. So there's always swings and roundabouts, it never always goes for you. I thought we should have got something against Liverpool. So there is more points that we've left out there but it's up to us to improve those fine margins."
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