Newcastle United's winless run has stretched to six games across all competitions, piling pressure on new manager Matthias Jaissle ahead of a key trip to Crystal Palace. The Magpies sit 11th in the Premier League with eight points from seven games, having lost three of their last four.

Their defensive frailties were again exposed in last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, a result met with boos at St James' Park. Newcastle have conceded 14 goals this season, a joint-worst record shared with Palace and Ipswich Town, and have not kept a clean sheet in their last 16 matches in all competitions. That is the longest such run in the club's history.

Attacking struggles

The problems are not confined to the back. The team managed just one shot on target against Villa, their lowest tally in a Premier League home game since August 2024. That solitary attempt came from defender Sven Botman, with Jaissle later deploying centre-back Dan Burn as an emergency forward in a desperate search for a goal.

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton described Newcastle's play as "chaotic" after the Villa loss. "There is not enough in the final third in terms of creativity and they have a vulnerability at the back," Sutton said.

The summer sales of key attackers Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, coupled with Callum Wilson's departure, have left a void. Their technical replacements, Yoane Wissa and the now-loaned Nick Woltemade, have yet to provide consistent firepower. The club invested around £250m in the summer window, but many signings like wingers Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba are young and have not yet started a league game.

A manager finding his way

"At the start of the season it was made clear in interviews we wanted to be an aggressive attacking team," Jaissle told reporters. "We are not there yet, we're still working it out."

Despite the external noise, CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson are reportedly applying an air of calm inside the club. Patience is being urged after a summer of significant upheaval that also saw Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali sold for major fees.

Newcastle's immediate focus is Sunday's 2pm kick-off at Selhurst Park. Palace, 14th in the standings, also have their own problems but will pose a threat. Sutton warned that if Newcastle's press is not right, the hosts will cause them problems. The Magpies lost 2-1 in this fixture last April. A positive result is essential before a busy period that includes a Carabao Cup tie at Everton and a Premier League visit to Fulham. The team will aim to secure their first win in six games this weekend.

The original report is at BBC Sport Football