SORRY FOR YOUR LOSSES

Under-pressure Eddie: My sympathy for sacked rivals

- BY LEE RYDER

EDDIE HOWE admits that his week has been tinged with sadness after two of his Premier League dugout rivals were sacked.

Thomas Frank made his departure from Tottenham and was quickly followed by Sean Dyche being shown the exit door at Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle manager Howe has been under pressure of a different kind from online critics, but has retained the full backing of the club's 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 beating Aston Villa for a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

He said: "It always saddens me when that happens.