[Freddy Adu]

Poor Defending Leaves Big Sam Bemused
Although his side reacted well to equalise in the Tyne-Wear derby, Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce lamented his side’s “silly defending” to concede in the first place.
Sunderland took the lead in a feisty lunchtime derby through another bout of poor defending from Newcastle, an on-going deficiency that Big Sam is eager to eradicate.

“We can’t keep making silly mistakes at the back”, admitted the Newcastle boss.

“It was a silly goal to give away. First a silly pass from one centre-half to the other, then we should have cleared the ball for a throw-in not a corner, and then we allow them to score from there.”

“Set-pieces decide most games and we were punished there.”

But inadequate defending aside, Big Sam was pleased with his side’s reaction to conceding a goal, and felt they deserved a point and maybe more.

“Yes, I don’t see why we don’t deserve a point because of the response from going a goal down. “We had a fear which pepped our game after conceding the goal, and we might have even won it at the end.

“But up until then Sunderland out-muscled us and it’s disappointing, but in a derby we expect that.”

Nevertheless, Allardyce understood the local importance of the result from this game and therefore remained pleased he side didn’t end up on the losing end.

“We haven’t lost which is very important.”

Goal.com - Newcastle - Poor Defending Leaves Big Sam Bemused