Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew felt his players lost their cool for defeat to Sunderland.
Newcastle fans were struck by a hammer blow before seasonal festivities got underway after they watched their side lose the FOURTH derby in a row.
The defeat was also Pardew's FIFTH loss to Gus Poyet in a row. Pardew said after the game: "Of course it's painful.
"The players, after a first half where we got wrapped up in the emotion of the derby, gave far too many fouls away and there were some strange moments in that first half where the passion of the game gets on top of you."