How Newcastle became masters of the dark arts - with Eddie Howe studying Diego Simeone

Duringhis 15 months out of the game, Eddie Howe spent time in Madrid. He did not return enthused by the artwork of Picasso, Dali and Goya. It was the dark arts of Diego Simeone he had noted.

For a nice guy who could not organise a backline as was often levelled at him at Bournemouth the Newcastle boss has built a pugnacious band of brothers whose defence is seldom breached. Nick Pope has kept 10 straight clean sheets.

There is, however, far more to that resistance than the worlds best goalkeeper, as team-mate Bruno Guimaraes labelled Pope this week.

It is also the wily, underhand practices made infamous by Simeone and Atletico Madrid that have turned Newcastle into the countrys most obdurate opponents.

They are clipping the wings of the established order and ruffling feathers while they are at it. As Howe himself said: Were not here to be popular, we are here to compete.

If that was the manager allowing himself a rare bark, his players have backed it up with their bite. Joelinton has assumed the role of chief enforcer, and no player has more than his seven Premier League yellow cards this season. Captain Jamaal Lascelles has been booked twice both for interference while warming up as a substitute. Talk about a 12th man.