Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has branded Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James' Park the team's "worst game of the season".

Raheem Sterling's excellent free kick cancelled out an opener from Alexander Isak, with the two teams level at the half-time break of the Premier League contest.

Newcastle scored three times without reply in the second period to pick up all three points, though, and Chelsea also had their captain Reece James sent off for two bookable offences.

Pochettino was not on the touchline at St James' Park, with the head coach serving a suspension, and he admitted that it was "tough to be in the stands".

The 51-year-old also called the loss at Newcastle the team's "worst game of the season", with the result leaving them down in 10th position in the table on 16 points.

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"It was our worst game of the season. It was tough to be in the stands. We cannot complain about the result, we did not read the game from the beginning," Pochettino told Premier League Productions.

"We did not play how we should play, we showed a lack of intensity and energy. Even after we scored, at 1-1, it was a chance for us to force them to play deep, but it was so easy for Newcastle. That is why I am so upset with the performance.

"It is a young team, they need this type of situation to realise. We will go to the hotel, then train early tomorrow, no time off. We cannot blame the players, it is the team together. We need to understand the level we need to compete, and learn about this situation.

"There are many details, many things that build confidence and strength. We already know what is going on, and we will try to change the dynamic."

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Chelsea entered the international break off the back of a 4-4 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League, and they brought a three-game unbeaten run into the clash with Newcastle.

However, the team's fifth league defeat of the campaign has left them down in 10th position, some 10 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have a game in hand.

Chelsea have no European football this season, so they will not be back in action until next weekend at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Blues will then make the trip to Manchester United on December 6, before facing Everton, Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers this side of Christmas.

Chelsea will also host Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on December 19, with the competition potentially the club's best chance of securing silverware this season.