Steve McClaren: Newcastle 'tremendous' despite defeat

​Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat away at Watford, Newcastle manager Steve McClaren was delighted with his side's performance.

Newcastle conceded two goals to Odion Ighalo and Craig Cathcart before pulling one back through Jamaal Lascelles, but it ended up being only a consolation at Vicarage Road.

"I thought we were tremendous," McClaren told Sky Sports. "Great attitude, effort and we controlled the game. We worked and created chances but winning football matches is about what you do in both boxes, and unfortunately we conceded two and didn't do enough in the other.

"We're scoring at home but we aren't scoring away. You can't keep having to score two goals a game to try and get a result, so the balance isn't quite right at the moment. But the attitude, the organisation and the football we're playing is very, very good and deserved more today."

There were shades of offside about Ighalo's opener for Watford, but McClaren was only disappointed that his defence gave the striker the opportunity to run in behind.

"There was no need to play offside, we talked a lot about that," he said. "He looked offside but he plays on the line and he got the decision and finished it well, which was disappointing straight after half-time.

"Then we didn't defend two crosses into our box, and you've got to do that - win your duels in both boxes. That gave us a mountain to climb but from then we really had a go, went for it, created chances and there was only one team that was going to score at the end."