FA CUP
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder admitted his side let their fans down in their humiliating 5-1 defeat by Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup.
"I apologise to the fans," Roeder said. "I think apologies are due after such a lack of performance from everybody.
"I certainly had no indication there was going to be a performance like that - this was the same 11 players who beat Tottenham on Sunday.
"We never got going all night and in the end we have been badly punished."
Newcastle fell behind to Gary McSheffrey's goal after just five minutes and Roeder felt they rarely looked like getting back into the game.
"We never recovered from going a goal down," he added. "I expected a much bigger response than there was - there was no response whatsoever.
"You could argue that there was tiredness from Sunday's game but I am not here to make excuses.
"It was just a rank bad performance and a humiliating defeat at home."
The Magpies' next test is a home game against West Ham and Roeder says he wants an instant response to this defeat.
"Somehow we have to put it behind us, hopefully in the manner that Liverpool did after they were beaten 6-3 at home by Arsenal and came out the next game and beat Watford.
"So we have to pick ourselves up. We have to be men about it, not boys.
"We have to stand up to be counted not scurry away and hide and I am sure we will come out fighting and put on a performance on Saturday that our fans deserve."
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce was jubilant after his side's thumping victory at St James' Park.
Bruce said: "I just detected the boys wanted to come on live TV and put on a show - and that is what they did.
"We were outstanding and to come up here and win 5-1 is one heck of a result. They are crippled by injuries but we beat them comprehensively.
"They could not deal with the ball in behind them and our attacking players were lethal in the final third."
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