‘No excuses,’ says Howe after Newcastle’s defeat in Dortmund.

(AFP) – Dortmund (Germany) – Newcastle manager Eddie Howe refused to blame his team’s 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on an increasing injury list.

Newcastle, who lost 1-0 to Dortmund in England two weeks ago, were defeated by a fired-up home team who were thrashed 4-0 by rivals Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Niclas Fuellkrug scored his first Champions League goal midway through the first half, and Julian Brandt clinched the victory with a strike 11 minutes from time.

Howe’s team is missing numerous first-team players due to injury and suspension, which means the manager has “lost the ability to make certain decisions,” according to the manager.

“In some ways, I’m being forced to make certain decisions and select certain teams.”

“(But) I’m not going to sit here and make excuses because that’s all we’ve got.

“We weren’t far away tonight and I think us at our very best, even with the players we have out, is good enough.”

Howe’s team, which thrashed Paris Saint-German 4-1 earlier in the group stages, now has a difficult path to the knockout stages.

Newcastle plays PSG away three days after hosting Chelsea in the league, and Milan plays at St. James’ Park three days after The Magpies visit Tottenham in London.

After Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over fellow Champions League competitors Arsenal, the manager told reporters, “the game just came too quickly for us.”

“After what the players have given in recent weeks, the game came too early.”

Howe stated that it was “difficult to tell” whether the squad would still qualify for the knockout stages, but that they would “do our best to win our last few games.”

“The outcome would have been different if the best version of ourselves had appeared today.”

“Today’s task was enormous for us, and we ultimately fell short.”