Former Republic of Ireland star Kevin Kilbane believes that Newcastle United could have conceded ten goals against Crystal Palace today, so poor was their defensive organisation.

While the Magpies did take the lead at Selhurst Park, they were quickly pegged back and were 3-1 down before half time.




Palace then grabbed a further two goals in the second half to inflict a 5-1 defeat on Steve McClaren's men and Kilbane was less than impressed with what he saw.

The former Everton man feels Newcastle had no defensive organisation and could have shipped double the amount of goals they did.
 


He said of Newcastle on the BBC's Final Score programme: "You worry for them after watching them today. So many times, in so many goals that Palace were scoring, they were always running back towards their own goal, which suggests that the team is not in the right shape to start with.

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"They weren't functional together as a back four and the two players that were sat in front of them.

"The goals they conceded were poor, but the reality of it is it could have been at least ten today", the 38-year-old added.

Newcastle sit second bottom of the Premier League, five points ahead of bottom club Aston Villa. But the Magpies have the worst goal difference in the division at minus 16.

They next host Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side at St. James' Park on Sunday 6th December.