If ever a short span that encapsulated Newcastle United's puzzling season.
On Sunday, Eddie Howe's team suffered a heavy 3-1 loss against struggling West Ham at London Stadium.
That outcome that left travel-sick Newcastle languishing in the lower reaches of the Premier League table.
Consider this side went on to overtake Real Madrid into the sixth spot in the Champions League standings following a 2-0 win against Athletic Club at St James' Park just 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 away-day woes after not securing a victory 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 is effective, that's highly successful," the Newcastle manager said.
"Somehow we have not been winning the games 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 likely growing more aware of it."
Home Strengths at 'Safe' St James'
Newcastle's players were certainly made aware of it earlier this week.
There was no place for the squad to hide as they were subjected to what defender Dan Burn described as a "deeply uncomfortable" analysis session in the days after the West Ham defeat.
"We saw 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 uncomfortable conversations and the coach 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 bounce back against Athletic.
The hosts hardly needed any added motivation to play in a Champions League match under the lights at St James'.
In his programme notes, ahead of the game, skipper Bruno Guimaraes even wrote that the stadium was a "secure environment for us where we know we play our best football."
And results 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 costly 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 bottom of the table Wolves are the only side to have scored less (one) on the road.
Jacob Murphy's first goal 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 struck the post.
Though Newcastle have had more ball control away (56%) than at home (47.1%), according to Opta, Howe's team have had 30 less contact in the opposition box (110) and they have only had half as many shots on target (13) on their travels, which underscores the challenges they have faced penetrating defenses.
Newcastle could at least fall back on their solidity as a base to build from earlier in the campaign following shutouts against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth in their opening three away games of the season.
But the visitors have since leaked five goals in just two matches versus Brighton and West Ham.
That backline work starts with the press from the front, but Newcastle have won the ball 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 "adopt a grittier approach", referencing how his side were "renowned a few years ago for something-housery."
Howe acknowledged 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 "quality, delivery and, above all, the attitude".
"It comes down to playing a game of football and producing a good performance – no matter where we are playing," he said.
"The only way we can answer those questions is to play well and get the job done."
