Steve McClaren's job safe for now despite Newcastle's humiliation against Crystal Palace

Steve McClaren was booed by Newcastle fans at the final whistle

STEVE MCCLAREN'S job is not under immediate threat despite Newcastle's humiliation against Crystal Palace.

 

But McClaren faces trial by TV next Sunday when they face Liverpool in front of a Newcastle crowd increasingly fed up with yet another crisis. The 2,800 Toon fans at Selhurst Park booed McClaren and his players on the final whistle, having chanted, "We're **** and we're sick of it".

And a third straight defeat could spark ugly scenes at St James' Park reminiscent of those witnessed in the past two seasons against owner Mike Ashley and former manager Alan Pardew, who would have felt comfortably smug at this hammering.

It is little wonder McClaren ordered his players in for extra training yesterday as an act of punishment. But the manager knows he is running out time.

 

"Every job I have started has been difficult at the beginning," he said. "From my first experience at Middlesbrough where we lost the first four games, we were pointless and clueless as we were called then and it took a good six, seven months to get through that. Really bad times.

"Then in the second year we built a bit of belief. But the first 18 months were very, very difficult. We expect the same here.

"I know we're doing the right things. I know through experience and everybody knows and everybody can see that. In time, that will turn around and work. At the present moment it's not."

Pardew, if you believe him, claimed he took no pleasure in watching his old side being picked off at will and added: "It looks like they're going to have to really fight for the rest of the season.

 

Yannick Bolasie scored twice for Crystal Palace in the victory

"It's important the group stays strong. I was sometimes, I felt myself in the position where you need everybody to pull for you and that's where they are now."

Newcastle actually led through Papiss Cisse but were chasing the game within seven minutes when James McArthur and Yannick Bolasie struck.

Wilfried Zaha volleyed home just before the break and Bolasie nudged in again moments after the restart, before McArthur added to their woes with the last kick of the game.

Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini said: "I'd like to say sorry and we will try our best in the next game like we always do."