Tuesday 15 September 2015 06:19, UK
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren refused to blame his side's nightmare preparation, in which they were stuck in traffic and arrived at Upton Park less than 50 minutes before kick-off, for their 2-0 defeat to West Ham.
McClaren, his players and his staff were forced to walk the final mile of their journey to the ground after being gridlocked on an East London road before kick-off.
Newcastle asked the Premier League for the kick-off to be delayed in order to give them sufficient time to warm up, however their request was denied.
The Mapgies manager admitted his side may have been affected as they conceded within the first nine minutes, but he insists he has far more problems on his hands than traffic jams, with his side winless from five Premier League games.
"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."
We need a big reaction on Saturday, not just from the players and the staff, but the fans as well.
Newcastle have not scored a league goal since the opening day of the season and host Watford next Saturday at St James' Park.
And McClaren said: "We need a big reaction on Saturday, not just from the players and the staff, but the fans as well.
"It's in the heart and in the head, and we need to react on the training pitch as well. It's early, we're learning, and we know we will lose games."
