Currently sitting 18th on the table and in a battle to maintain their Premier League status, Newcastle United floundered and weltered under the pressure, going down to Everton 3-0 on Wednesday.
Magpies boss Steve McClaren was left feeling an array of negative emotions following the defeat and was left shocked with the Magpies backward step after conceding an early goal to Aaron Lennon, seemingly out of nothing, and a late brace to Ross Barkley.
"Tonight we went back to what we were three or four months ago and it wasn't what we came here to do and it wasn't acceptable," he told Sky Sports.
"You could see in the first half that the Everton players and crowd were nervous and we didn't take advantage of it. We weren't positive or aggressive enough.
"Lennon's goal was a sloppy goal and gave them a lift. We changed things around in the second, where we were unfortunate to have injuries to Chancel Mbemba and Paul Dummett so we had to make changes.
"We had a go in the second half but it wasn't enough, we ought to be performing a lot better than that, fighting for each other, working for each other and playing good football.
"There were too many players below par and we need a reaction at home on Saturday, in front of 52,000 we have to perform."
