Saturday 19 December 2015 21:43, UK
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren thinks missed chances cost his side in their 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at St James' Park.
Fabricio Coloccini's first half goal gave Newcastle the lead but it was Aston Villa who hit back in the second half thanks to Jordan Ayew's strike.
Newcastle had glorious chances to seal victory through Siem de Jong, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ayoze Perez as the game wore on, and on a different day McClaren insists his side would have taken all three points.
"That was a battling point and two lost," McClaren told Sky Sports.
"I've just seen the chances. There were three clear cut ones and I think the defining moment of the game was De Jong's chance.
"We missed and two minutes later they scored the equaliser. It could have been 2-0 but in the end it was 1-1. We had a bad 15 minutes but we finished the game so strong," he added.
"I'm proud of the players. They kept going forward and went for the game. We had two opportunities at the end through Wijnaldum and Perez, but it wasn't meant to be.
"I said on another day we'd take those chances and win the game but if we keep playing that I can't fault the attitude in what were difficult, difficult conditions. "
McClaren also praised his side's start to the game but admitted there was a moment in the second half when he thought a resurgent Aston Villa, led by substitute Rud Gestede and Ayew, could complete what seemed like an unlikely turnaround after the first half.
"We started ever so well," McClaren added. "It was a fantastic start. I was very pleased and then we got the goal.
"After the break they grew into the game and I thought it could have been one of those days. Gestede made a difference.
"He caused us problems when he came on but after the goal we recovered and I think we finished strongly."
