Howe defends Pope after error leads to a Newcastle collapse

Eddie Howe has defended Nick Pope after the goalkeeper's rush of blood set Marseille on the road to Champions League victory over Newcastle.

- by Sports Reporter

The Magpies were leading 1-0 at the Stade Velodrome when, just seconds after the restart, the England international raced from his line in a vain attempt to beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the ball and saw the 36-year-old round him before finishing from an unlikely angle.

Pope was beaten by the former Arsenal frontman for a second time just four minutes late as the Ligue 1 outfit secured a 2-1 win to kickstart their campaign and deny the Magpies a fourth successive three-point haul.

Asked about his keeper's error at his post-match press conference, head coach Howe said: "It's a concern when we concede goals regardless of who's at fault.

"We have to look at everything with a balanced head.