But Newcastle discovered a solution to climb it.
Following some robust phrases at half-time, the guests rallied after the break and gained a penalty courtesy of Nick Woltemade aggressively urgent Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
And after equalising from the spot, Gordon then went on to arrange substitute Lewis Miley’s header to place Newcastle in entrance.
Nonetheless, one other acquainted situation reared its head.
Regardless of taking the lead within the 74th minute, Newcastle have been unable to see out the sport.
This facet have dropped extra factors from successful positions – 11 – than some other crew within the Premier League.
They’ve didn’t win 4 of their previous 5 away video games in all competitions regardless of taking the lead in all of them at some stage.
Newcastle could have hit the upright by substitute Jacob Murphy after moving into entrance, however Howe’s facet started to drop deep towards Leverkusen late on, consciously or not.
And Grimaldo’s intelligent dummy took Newcastle’s midfield out of the sport earlier than Leverkusen’s talisman levelled.
It was a well-recognized story for Howe.
“I do not assume it is ever a case of sitting again and absorbing stress,” the Newcastle head coach stated.
“That is not primary in our goal, however it is advisable to do no matter it takes to win. Typically that’s par for the course, that is what you must do.”
Newcastle stay on the right track for no less than a play-off spot and are solely a few factors off the automated qualification locations for the final 16.
However Howe’s crew can’t afford to let historical past repeat itself once they host a PSV facet who’re beginning to hit kind, on 21 January, earlier than a visit to the Parc des Princes to tackle holders Paris St-Germain every week later.
“Now we have all of it to show,” Howe added. “The 2 video games we’ve are very troublesome video games however I imagine within the group. Wherever we go, if we’re close to our greatest, we are able to win.”
