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. 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. 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. 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. 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. It's a big blow for us because we've done something we haven't done all season concede three goals. 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. I definitely felt the game hinged on the penalty decision and we felt it was a very soft penalty. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. But that doesn't deter us from the goal of getting promotion in which ever position we end up in. The Newcastle manager also defended his decision not to make any substitutions until his side were three down with the game seemingly lost. 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. It wasn't until five minutes after Barker had put the Rams three up that Hughton sent on Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands. 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. It's about picking individuals who can come on and make a difference. 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.