#eddie-howe

#eddie-howe

Midnight was fast approaching when Eddie Howe faced a curve-ball question: if he could be offered a draw at the Stadium of Light on Sunday would he accept it? If the typically straight-bat answer no chance, we prepare to win every game was expected, Howe's subsequent reaction spoke volumes about Sunderland's recent metamorphosis. Newcastle's manager was standing on a concrete concourse at the BayArena, where his team were hugely frustrated to have been held 2-2 by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday, but his focus had switched to a potentially bigger challenge on Wearside.

It has been an awful start to life at Nottingham Forest for boss Ange Postecoglou. The Australian has failed to win any of his six games in charge and felt the wrath of the City Ground crowd in midweek, being serenaded with chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" during the 3-2 Europa League defeat to Midtjylland. Forest were beaten by Newcastle's arch-rivals Sunderland in their last Premier League game.

Isak was ordered to train separately from his teammates and stay away from a lunchtime training-ground barbecue organized by Eddie Howe as tensions escalated.