Should there be a four-day period that encapsulated Newcastle United's curious season.
This past weekend, Eddie Howe's team endured a heavy 3-1 defeat against struggling West Ham at London Stadium.
It was a result that left struggling away Newcastle sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
To think this team went on to leapfrog Real Madrid into the sixth spot in the Champions League rankings following a 2-0 win against Athletic Club at St James' Park just days later.
It was their fifth consecutive home victory, but that was not cause for celebration for Howe.
Sunday's trip to Brentford was not far from his mind as Newcastle aim to finally address their away-day woes after failing to win on the road in the league since April.
"It's hugely frustrating because I think we have a style of play and a method of play that is effective, that's really effective," the Newcastle manager said.
"Somehow we have not been securing victories away from home that we should have.
"We find ourselves stuck in that trap where it's turning into an issue of conversation and we're probably becoming more aware of it."
Home Strengths at 'Secure' St James'
Newcastle's squad were definitely reminded of it earlier this week.
There was no place for the squad to hide as they were subjected to what back Dan Burn described as a "deeply uncomfortable" review meeting in the days after the West Ham defeat.
"It was clear how far off we were from what we expect from ourselves," Burn said. "However, that is the best way to learn.
"Sometimes you must have some tough talks and the manager is skilled at doing that. He is always very honest with what he says."
Burn, who went on to score first with a powerful header, always knew that Newcastle would bounce back against Athletic.
The home side hardly needed any extra incentive to contest a Champions League match under the lights at St James'.
In his matchday notes, ahead of the game, skipper Bruno Guimaraes even wrote that the stadium was a "secure environment for us where we know we perform at our peak."
And outcomes certainly support that claim.
Newcastle have defeated Athletic, Tottenham, Fulham, Benfica and Nottingham Forest by an aggregate scoreline of 11-1 on their own turf in the last month alone.
They have a 70% victory rate at St James' this season. That record should be even better - last-minute goals proved damaging against Arsenal and Liverpool – but these top contenders and Barcelona are the only teams to have beaten Howe's side on Tyneside.
Each by a single goal.
Travel Troubles
Yet it has been a very different story away from home.
Newcastle have only won four matches on their travels in 2025 and they have looked especially blunt of late.
Howe's side have scored a mere fraction of the goals (two) away as they have at home in the league (eight), and last-placed Wolves are the only side to have netted fewer (one) on the road.
Jacob Murphy's opener against West Ham was a rare example of this side being clinical away from home in the league – just 26 seconds after Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen had hit the woodwork.
Though Newcastle have had more possession away (56%) than at home (47.1%), according to Opta, Howe's team have had 30 fewer touches in the opposition box (110) and they have only had 50% fewer shots on target (13) on their travels, which underscores the difficulties they have faced penetrating defenses.
Newcastle could at least rely on their defensive strength as a foundation earlier in the campaign following clean sheets against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth in their first three road matches of the season.
But the visitors have since leaked five goals in just two matches versus Brighton and West Ham.
That defensive effort starts with the forward pressure, but Newcastle have won possession back on eight fewer occasions (16) away than at home (24), while much-lauded midfield trio Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Guimaraes have been often circumvented on the road in recent weeks.
Burn has spoken of the need to "be a bit more ugly", referencing how his side were "well-known a few years ago for something-housery."
Howe acknowledged his side "possibly need a bit of that" ahead of Sunday's trip to the Gtech Community Stadium as he called on his players to bring the "quality, delivery and, most importantly, the mindset".
"It's about playing a game of football and producing a good performance – regardless of where we are playing," he said.
"The only way we can answer those questions is to play well and actually do the business."
