Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew insists there's no reason to panic after defeat to Sunderland.
Pardew's side must now pick themselves up for the trip to Manchester United on Boxing Day but even victory against the Red Devils would struggle to make up for another defeat against the auld enemy.
He said: "Today was a key game because the two fixtures we had, Arsenal and Spurs, were difficult.
"But this game now compounds that and we have to lick our wounds and prepare quickly for Manchester United.
"We have a tough run of games - we knew that - over this period, and this was always going to be a critical fixture, so losing it is very disappointing.
"We are still find ourselves in a healthy place in the league, and the job now it to try to build on that."