Howe sidelines sadness to focus on FA Cup run

MANAGER GRATEFUL FOR PATIENCE AS FELLOW PREMIER LEAGUE BOSSES LOSE THEIR JOBS

- By Lee Ryder

EDDIE Howe admits that his week has been tinged with sadness after two of his Premier League dugout rivals Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche were sacked.

Howe himself has been under pressure of a different kind from online critics, but has retained the full backing of Newcastle owners PIF. And having effectively tipped Frank over the edge after a win over his struggling Spurs side on Tuesday, Howe will now look to win over some of his doubters by booking a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup at Villa Park.

Howe said: “It always saddens me when that happens. You just have sympathy for every manager because you know how difficult the job is, and especially the modern-day life of a manager.

“The sways and the speed of opinion changing is quicker, I think, than it's ever been due to various different factors and forces that you have to compete against. I have sympathy for any manager who loses their job.

“For me, I don’t think too deeply about it. My immediate focus then goes back to myself and what I can do to help the team that I have - and that’s all that I can do every day.”