Newcastle United captain Geremi admits their performance at Reading on Saturday wasn't good enough.

"The manager (Sam Allardyce) has told us on more than occasion that, if we are to finish in the top five this season, we are going to have to keep 15 clean sheets," said the United skipper. "At the moment, we don't really look like getting anywhere near that figure.

"We're a long way off that target, and nobody in the team is defending as well as they can do. If we want to start improving our away form, the first thing we're going to have to do is keep a clean sheet. But we haven't done that in any of our away games this season."