The full-back faced up to the media after the game and insisted that Eddie Howe should not be the only one criticised
20:37, 07 Feb 2026Updated 20:40, 07 Feb 2026
Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier has stated that the players should take responsibility for the 3-2 defeat against Brentford – and attempted to shield Eddie Howe from blame.
Trippier struggled against Brentford as the London side emerged with three points and left Newcastle in 12th position. But warned that Howe is not the only person that should face the heat following the awful loss.
Trippier told Sky Sports: “It’s nothing about the manager. We need to take responsibility for the performances as the players. I’m not going down that route about the manager – I’d never do that.
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“We need to start putting in performances with the players, and most importantly the manager.
“Now we have to regroup, put performances in and start winning games for ourselves, most importantly, and the supporters and the club, and for the manager, most importantly as well.”
But Newcastle have now won just once in eight games and look like a team sliding backwards. They now head to Tottenham on Tuesday night before a crucial FA Cup fourth round tie at Aston Villa.
When asked about performances, Trippier said: “Very tough. The goals we’re conceding, especially at home. We have a big game next week, we need to move on, but it’s tough to take.
“The games that we’ve had where we’ve taken the lead, we need to put more pressure on and maintain it. We’re going through a tough spell at the moment, we’re not denying that.
Trippier also took personal responsibility and said: “It is my responsibility, the senior players, to calm things down and lead by example.
“I have been in this place many times in my career, as other senior players have, so it is my responsibility to help the players because it is a demanding season, there are a lot of games, so I take full responsibility as a senior player in the dressing room.”
Speaking about throwing leads away, Trippier said: “The games we’ve had, we’ve taken the lead and it is about putting more pressure on and maintaining and getting that second goal.
“We are going through a tough spell at the moment, there is no denying that but again, we have another game in midweek and we need to refresh, get our heads down and concentrate on another big game midweek.”
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