Should there be a four-day period that encapsulated Newcastle United's curious season.
On Sunday, Eddie Howe's squad endured a heavy 3-1 defeat against lowly West Ham at London Stadium.
That outcome that left travel-sick Newcastle languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
To think this side went on to overtake Real Madrid into sixth place in the Champions League standings following a 2-0 win against Athletic Club at St James' Park a few days later.
That marked their fifth straight home victory, but that was not reason to rejoice for Howe.
The upcoming visit to Brentford was not far from his mind as Newcastle aim to finally address their road struggles after failing to win on the road in the league since April.
"It's hugely frustrating because I think we have a playing style and a game plan that works, that's really effective," the Newcastle head coach said.
"Somehow we have not been securing victories away from home that we should have.
"We find ourselves stuck in that cycle where it's turning into an issue of conversation and we're likely growing more aware of it."
Home Comforts at 'Safe' St James'
Newcastle's squad were definitely reminded of it earlier this week.
There was no place for the team to hide as they were put through what back Dan Burn described as a "very painful" review meeting in the days after the West Ham defeat.
"It was clear how far off we were from what we demand from ourselves," Burn said. "But that's the best way to learn.
"Sometimes you must have some tough talks and the manager is quite good 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 respond against Athletic.
The hosts hardly needed any extra incentive to contest a Champions League fixture under the lights at St James'.
In his matchday notes, ahead of the game, captain Bruno Guimaraes even wrote that the stadium was a "safe place for us where we know we perform at our peak."
And outcomes certainly back those words up.
Newcastle have defeated Athletic, Tottenham, Fulham, Benfica and Nottingham Forest by an combined score of 11-1 on home soil in the last month alone.
They have a 70% victory rate at St James' this season. That statistic should be even better - last-minute goals proved damaging against Arsenal and Liverpool – but these respective title challengers and Barcelona are the only teams to have beaten Howe's side on Tyneside.
Each by a single goal.
Away-Day Blues
Yet it has been a very different story away from home.
Newcastle have only won four league games on their travels in 2025 and they have looked lacking sharpness 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 bottom of the table Wolves are the only side to have netted fewer (one) on the road.
Jacob Murphy's first goal against West Ham was a uncommon instance of this side being clinical away from home in the league – just 26 seconds after Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen had struck the post.
Though Newcastle have had more possession away (56%) than at home (47.1%), according to Opta, Howe's team have had 30 less contact in the enemy area (110) and they have only had 50% fewer shots on target (13) on their travels, which highlights the challenges they have faced penetrating defenses.
Newcastle could at least fall back on their defensive strength as a base to build from earlier in the campaign following clean sheets against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth in their opening three away games of the season.
But the visitors have since conceded five goals in just two matches versus Brighton and West Ham.
That defensive effort starts with the press from the front, but Newcastle have won possession back on eight fewer occasions (16) away than at home (24), while highly-praised midfield trio Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Guimaraes have been repeatedly bypassed on the road in recent weeks.
Burn has spoken of the need to "adopt a grittier approach", referencing how his side were "renowned a few years ago for physical play."
Howe recognised his side "might require a bit of that" ahead of Sunday's trip to the Gtech Community Stadium as he called on his players to bring the "skill, delivery and, above all, the attitude".
"It comes down to 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."
