Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton sees his players hurting after Derby defeat
CHRIS HUGHTON admitted the away dressing room was hurting' after the Magpies crashed to their worst defeat of the season, 3-0 at Derby County last night.[LNB] The Newcastle manager was also unhappy with what he saw as the crucial penalty decision that handed the Rams a two-goal advantage just before the hour mark, believing referee Anthony Taylor should have given the decision rather than reacting to his assistant's flag.[LNB] Jonas Gutierrez appeared to make minimal contact with Michael Tonge as the players came together in the box but it was enough to see a penalty awarded with Kris Commons sending Steve Harper the wrong way.[LNB] The spot-kick sandwiched between goals from Rob Hulse and Shaun Barker allowed West Brom to go above Newcastle on goal difference, with the Magpies having played a game less.[LNB] It's a very hurt changing room at the moment. One because of the manner of the defeat for a side which is not used to conceding very hurt, said Hughton.[LNB] It's a big blow for us because we've done something we haven't done all season concede three goals.[LNB] What we have to do now is capitalise on the feelings of defeat and make sure we can get back to winning ways as soon as possible.[LNB] I definitely felt the game hinged on the penalty decision and we felt it was a very soft penalty.[LNB] The referee was in the best position to give the decision running some 15 yards behind the play. The referee didn't give it but the linesman did.[LNB] I'm probably more aggrieved because I think we've had one penalty all season and we don't seem to get the rub of the green.[LNB] There was a shout in the first half (foul on Andy Carroll) and we don't get it and it makes it even harder when they get a soft penalty.[LNB] The Magpies saw their 15- game unbeaten run ended but Hughton remained confident he had the players to see the Magpies to promotion come May.[LNB] And the Newcastle manager insisted he would not allow the loss of top spot to West Brom deflect the players from the goal of a return to the Premier League.[LNB] Of course it's a blow (to lose top spot) because it's something we've had all season and it's something we have got used to, said Hughton.[LNB] But that doesn't deter us from the goal of getting promotion in which ever position we end up in.[LNB] The Newcastle manager also defended his decision not to make any substitutions until his side were three down with the game seemingly lost.[LNB] Leon Best and Carroll were playing independently of each other in attack with the Republic of Ireland international offering little in the way of threat.[LNB] It wasn't until five minutes after Barker had put the Rams three up that Hughton sent on Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands.[LNB] At 1-0 down I certainly felt we could get back in the game and it's all about picking the right times to make substitutions.[LNB] It's about picking individuals who can come on and make a difference.[LNB] You feel the players you've selected are good enough and they've been good enough to get us where we are but whether the substitutions are too late you'll never know.[LNB]
