Newcastle United manager Steven McClaren has refused to use the lack of preparation time as an excuse for his side's lackluster display in the 2-0 defeat against West Ham United.

The Magpies were stuck in a traffic jam and arrived at Upton Park less than 50 minutes prior to kick-off.

They were forced to walk the final mile of their trip to the ground but McClaren says that cannot be blamed for their substandard performance.

"We didn't do what we've been doing for the last four games. I don't know what it was, whether it was the journey and the delay, I don't know," McClaren said.

"It wasn't the best preparation and we had 10 minutes to warm up, and in the first 10 minutes you could see. We said no excuses but it wasn't our level and it was a wake-up call for everyone.

"You have to be 100 per cent for every game. You could see they were really going or it with the first goal and we didn't match that. Our final ball, final cross, and final touch wasn't of the quality of West Ham, which is why we lost."