Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has talked up the importance of his side's remaining 12 fixtures in the Premier League relegation battle this season.
The Magpies slipped back into the bottom three on goal difference this evening courtesy of a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea.
Three of Chelsea's goals at Stamford Bridge arrived inside the opening 20 minutes, and McClaren admitted that from then on it was a case of damage limitation.
"We lost the game in the first 15 minutes. We got exposed on quite a few occasions in terms of defensive frailties. Rolando Aarons had to play at left-back and it was Steven Taylor's second game in six months," he told BBC Sport.
"We caused our own problems. We knew Chelsea would come out quick. They wanted to win that game by half time with the week they have ahead of them. You get one or two of these games a season. I've told the players don't let that derail us. It was damage limitation by half time. I just wanted to make sure we scored a goal and stayed in the game.
"We have 18 days now – three or four players should return from injury and we can work on others in terms of fitness, and getting some defenders back in. We are getting a consistency at home but we need to pick up some points away from home. There are 12 cup finals to come. We've got to stay calm and stable."
Newcastle have now lost their last six away games in all competitions, scoring only two goals in that time.
Barney Corkhill
