Yet Newcastle found a way to climb it.
Following some strong words at half-time, the visitors rallied after the break and won a penalty courtesy of Nick Woltemade aggressively pressing Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
And after equalising from the spot, Gordon then went on to set up substitute Lewis Miley’s header to put Newcastle in front.
However, another familiar issue reared its head.
Despite taking the lead in the 74th minute, Newcastle were unable to see out the game.
This side have dropped more points from winning positions – 11 – than any other team in the Premier League.
They have failed to win four of their past five away games in all competitions despite taking the lead in all of them at some stage.
Newcastle may have hit the upright through substitute Jacob Murphy after going in front, but Howe’s side began to drop deep against Leverkusen late on, consciously or not.
And Grimaldo’s clever dummy took Newcastle’s midfield out of the game before Leverkusen’s talisman levelled.
It was a familiar story for Howe.
“I don’t think it’s ever a case of sitting back and absorbing pressure,” the Newcastle head coach said.
“That’s not number one in our aim, but you need to do whatever it takes to win. Sometimes that is par for the course, that’s what you have to do.”
Newcastle remain on course for at least a play-off spot and are only a couple of points off the automatic qualification places for the last 16.
But Howe’s team cannot afford to let history repeat itself when they host a PSV side who are starting to hit form, on 21 January, before a trip to the Parc des Princes to take on holders Paris St-Germain a week later.
“We have it all to prove,” Howe added. “The two games we have are very difficult games but I believe in the group. Wherever we go, if we’re near our best, we can win.”
