'You Have to Stand Up and Be Counted' - History Repeats Itself for The Magpies

Frustration was clear as Aaron Ramsdale flung out his arms. Malick Thiaw hammered the ground in disgust. Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy stood in disbelief, hands on heads.

The past was coming back to haunt them for the Magpies as the BayArena erupted following an 88th-minute equaliser for Bayer Leverkusen's Alex Grimaldo.

Having displayed great heart to fight back, and take the lead against the German side, Newcastle were again denied a precious victory.

They had let in another stoppage-time strike.

"You must show character and be accountable and we failed to do that sufficiently," Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said following the share of the points in the Champions League. "That's a team thing – the whole group understanding the importance of defending our goal."

Newcastle have now let in nine strikes in the final 10 minutes of games in every tournament this season.

Solely Nottingham Forest have let in more among top-flight English teams.

"It all comes back to mentality," scorer Anthony Gordon told TNT Sports. "We have to hold out in these games because that is what top teams do."

'We Created a Huge Challenge for Ourselves'

Newcastle aim to become a top team, of course.

And there was no danger of the visitors having one eye on Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby.

So crucial was this match, and the respect he had for Leverkusen, Howe selected perhaps his best available side as Lewis Hall, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes all came into the team.

Yet they quickly found themselves going behind in a recurring theme after not winning the initial header on a set-piece.

Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich easily shrugged off Tonali at the back post to head the ball off Bruno Guimaraes and into the net.

"We're not doing it well enough," Gordon said. "Once more, it's about mindset. We must show more resilience, we need to be better. In the end, it's maintaining standards. We need to be a reliable team in every phase of the game."

Newcastle have devoted practice to dead-ball situations recently, but a typically solid side have looked shaky from corner kicks in the last week or so.

'Must Employ Any Means Necessary for Victory'

Yet Newcastle found a way to climb it.

After a stern team talk at half-time, the Magpies rallied after the break and won a penalty.

And after converting the penalty, Gordon then went on to provide the assist for substitute Lewis Miley's headed goal to put Newcastle ahead.

However, another well-known problem reared its head.

Even after going ahead in the 74th minute, Newcastle were unable to see out the game.

This side have dropped more points from winning positions - 11 - than any rival in the Premier League.

They have failed to win four of their past five matches on the road in all competitions despite taking the lead in all of them.

Newcastle came close to scoring again through substitute Jacob Murphy after going in front, but Howe's side began to drop deep against Leverkusen late on.

And Grimaldo's clever dummy took Newcastle's midfield out of the game before the Leverkusen talisman levelled.

"It's not simply about defending deeply and absorbing pressure," the Newcastle head coach said. "That isn't our primary objective, but you must employ all necessary tactics to win. Occasionally that is what's required, that's what you have to do."

Newcastle are still in contention for at least a qualifying round place and are only a few points off the direct entry places for the last 16.

But Howe's team must not allow history happen again when they host a Dutch side who are finding their rhythm, before a journey to the home of PSG to take on reigning champions Paris St-Germain.

"We have it all to prove," Howe added. "The two games we have are very difficult games but I believe in the group. Wherever we go, if we're close to our top level, we can win."