Issues at the back are just as alarming for Newcastle as their lack of goals.
When they failed to score in each of their opening three away days this season, they could at least back on a resilient backline to keep a clean sheet and secure a point against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth.
But Newcastle have since let in eight goals – at Brentford, Brighton and West Ham – and a team of supposed giants ultimately crumbled at the Gtech.
After Sven Botman could only flick Michael Kayode’s long throw across his own goal, goalkeeper Nick Pope was at sea as Kevin Schade headed his side level.
Guimaraes may have argued the case with referee Stuart Attwell that Pope was impeded, but the goal rightly stood and Newcastle never recovered.
Dan Burn was then extremely fortunate not to give away a penalty – the first time around – after taking down Dango Ouattara inside the area.
But rather than taking Burn off there and then – at a time when the 6ft 7in defender was on a yellow card – Howe opted not to.
By the time left-back Lewis Hall finally entered the fray, from the bench, his side were 2-1 down following Igor Thiago’s penalty, Burn had been sent off for a second booking after fouling Ouattara, and Pope had gone off with a concussion on an afternoon Joelinton also hobbled off.
Yet Newcastle’s defending only got worse.
Malick Thiaw failed to cut out Mathias Jensen’s through ball for Brentford’s third goal and the casual Botman was far too slow to react as Thiago slotted the ball under substitute Aaron Ramsdale.
It brought back memories of Newcastle’s display at the Gtech at a similar stage of last season, when the visitors were beaten 4-2.
That bruising loss ended up proving a turning point, but nothing suggests this side are about to embark on an almighty nine-game winning run again.
They look a long way away from that.
“We take full accountability for what we are delivering and only we can change it,” Howe said.
