Newcastle United's recent performances in the English league have been in the spotlight, however, their 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their most recent game has made the hearts of fans even heavier. Former Newcastle United player Wood scored a stunning hat-trick against his parent club in this game. It wasn't a smooth start for the Magpies in December, who have lost four of their six matches and the only winners were Manchester United and Fulham. Particularly sad is the fact that their defeat on Boxing Day has made them the team with the most Boxing Day losses in English league history, which is undoubtedly a heavy record.
Wood scored a hat-trick against his former club, making him only the fourth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick on such an occasion. The previous three were Andy Cole, Marcus Bent and Josh King. The stunning performance not only made him shine personally, but also became a painful witness to Newcastle United's defeat.
However, the outlook for Newcastle United is not rosy at the moment. The fixtures ahead look tough, with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa coming in January. The situation is compounded by a staff shortage in Eddie Howe's side. In this situation, the team needs to find new strategies and fighting spirit in the competitive arena in order to make a breakthrough in the next competition.
It has been a difficult time for Newcastle United, but it has also been a time of test and opportunity. They need to review and analyse the reasons for the defeat, while looking for strengths and room for improvement. Although the schedule may seem precipitous, it is also a time to exercise the strength of the team. Coach Howe will face a huge challenge and he will need to adjust the team's tactical layout and mentality to inspire his players to pick themselves up and prepare themselves for the upcoming challenge.