Newcastle Come Crashing Back Down To Earth

Yes, they were great against Cardiff, it was a scintillating performance and illustrated the attacking flair they are capable of when they are in the right mood.

But that's it, it was just another three points and for all of the joy that display brought, it was ruined by the insipid performance at Pride Park.

Everyone was quick to deny it in the post match interviews, but Newcastle were complacent. The performance reeked of it.

Sluggish, slapdash and sloppy, it was a massive disappointment. They played for a few minutes either side of half time, and that was it.

They got what their performance deserved and it was hard, during the post-match inquest over a couple of pints in the hotel, to think of anyone who came out of the game with any credit.

Wayne Routledge and Fitz Hall were the only two who were better than dreadful, with Jonas, Danny Guthrie, Leon Best, Patrick van Aanholt and Andy Carroll taking the worst of the flak.

However, it is not the end of the world. Newcastle couldn't remain unbeaten forever, they had to lose at some point and now that it has happened, they must show the same resilience they have done all season and look to start another lengthy run.

We must always try to prevent hysterical knee jerk reactions. Newcastle lost and they have been replaced at the top of the table by West Brom, but they have played a game less and the gap back to third place remains at four points following Nottingham Forest's 1-0 defeat at Coventry.

Just as the Cardiff game was cast into history as soon as the final whistle blew, so too has the Derby one and the focus must shift to the equally daunting trip to Swansea on Saturday.

Newcastle have won just one of their last seven road trips and Swansea have an excellent home record, although hopefully the under-performers from Tuesday night will be stung into giving a suitable response in South Wales.

For a start, Best needs to make way for Peter Lovenkrands as the new boy has so far done nothing to show why he was signed by Hughton last month.

I thought he was supposed to be quick?! Give the lad time, but take him out of the firing line and save him from further criticism.

I suspect Hughton will resort to type and go back to cautious against Swansea, so expect a five man midfield with Kevin Nolan playing as a second striker and Alan Smith back in the starting line up.

One defeat doesn't equal a disaster but it is vital United do not lose more momentum by slipping to another one at the Liberty Stadium.

The pressure, if it has ever been off, is on....