Anthony Gordon criticises Newcastle United mentality as Eddie Howe bemoans defending in Bayer Leverkusen draw – ‘It’s happening too many times’

And winger Gordon insisted Newcastle must stop squandering leads if they are to become a “top team”.

“I don’t know (how the game slipped away) but it’s happening too many times, to be honest,” he told TNT Sports.

“The first half an hour was really poor, but we reacted well and we came out well in the second half. The manager gave us a kick up the backside and we reacted well.

“Defensively we need to be more tight because we are conceding too many goals late in games. I don’t know if that is fatigue, but it all comes back to mentality.

Gordon levels after Flekken gives away ‘ridiculous’ penalty

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“We have to hold out in these games because that is what top teams do. Again, it comes back to mentality. We need to be stronger, we need to be better.

“Ultimately, it’s consistency. We need to be a consistent team in every phase of the game.”

Manager Eddie Howe pointed to poor defending as the major factor, admitting Leverkusen’s goals were “too easy”.

“Tough game,” he said. “I thought we played well, I thought the third goal was coming, we hit the inside of the post. Malick’s (Thiaw) missed a good chance, the goalkeeper made a good save.”

Asked if Newcastle had developed a mentality issue, Howe added: “I don’t know. Goals are events that happen in games and we haven’t defended the two well enough today.

“Regardless of timing, the first one’s a disappointment for us. It’s made our night very difficult – from there we’ve navigated it really well.

Grimaldo scores late equaliser to break Newcastle hearts

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“The second one, need to see it again, but it seemed like it was too easy for them to go through the middle of our defence. It’s something we need to look at.”

Victory in Germany would have left Newcastle in the top eight of the league phase standings, on course to go straight through to the last 16.

Instead, the Magpies are 12th, with 10 points from six games, and fixtures against PSV and Paris Saint-Germain to come in January.

“It leaves us in a good position – it’s in our hands,” Howe told TNT Sports.

“We have two tough games to come but we’ll look forward to playing at home and then, of course, a really tough one at the end which we knew was always there.”

Newcastle return to Premier League action with the much-anticipated Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Howe’s side are 12th in the top flight, a point behind their fierce rivals.