Newcastle United lost the game after 10 minutes, says Steve McClaren

Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren claimed his side lost their match to Chelsea in the opening 10 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

The Magpies found themselves 2-0 behind after strikes from Diego Costa and Pedro inside the first nine minutes, with the champions going on to score again through Willian, Bertrand Traore and the former Barcelona forward.

McClaren was clear where the visitors were to blame for their 5-1 defeat to the Blues on Saturday Night Football, with makeshift left-back Rolando Aarons in particular at fault for Pedro's first goal.

"Whereas last week we won the game in the first 10 minutes, today we lost it," he said. "I think quite a few things in terms of being exposed, our defensive frailties.

"Like we said before, we were playing Rolando at left-back, Steven Taylor, that was just his second game in six months, and we got a little bit exposed by quality players.

"As soon as I saw the team sheet, I thought we are going to have to defend extremely well today and we did not do that. But I think that the majority of the goals and problems were caused by ourselves in giving away the ball cheaply.

"Normally we have players who can play football and deal with the ball. The goals were our own fault where we lost the ball and could not handle the press, could not play through it and we got punished severely.

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"We were certainly focused and we knew that with their front five, they would press and we knew that we would have to play forward at a good tempo, play high.

"But as I said before the game, how well we got on today would be down to how well we pass the ball and deal with the ball. And in the first 15 minutes, we did not do that very well.

"You always demand and want more and unfortunately tonight we have just been exposed by a very, very good team and that can happen. But we just have to dust ourselves down."

Newcastle now have a period of time without playing where they can get many of their injured players back, a positive as far as McClaren is concerned.

"I said before the game, [we have] 18 days before the next one," he said. "I think it is a good period for us, we have lots of injuries, we need to get them back, so we have the possibility of four or five coming back.

"We need to work on those who have just joined us, in terms of fitness, and we will be in better shape by the time we come back. Twelve games to go to, we have to dust ourselves down and make sure the next 12 are good ones.

"We just said in there, we have talked a lot about our away form and that just epitomised what we have been like away from home and we need to get better. So we need to look at that.

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"But I have just said: 'Do not let that derail us.' What we are on our day, we can be a good team, we have proved that. Today was an off day, we caused our own problems, lost the game in the first 15 minutes and it was very difficult after that."

However, the Newcastle coach says he has already seen enough in some of his team's displays this season to be confident of staying up this season.

"They have proved that before with their performances [that they can avoid relegation] and we will do it again," he said. "As I said, I think the period of 18 days has come at a good time for us just to get some injured players back, get the people together, and refocus for the 12 games.

"But do not let this derail us. This can happen any time, but we have to stay calm, stable and carry on. And like we did after Everton away from home, we need as reaction in 18 days and that reaction has to last for 12 games."