Newcastle boss Steve McClaren: “I’m very disappointed. That was definitely a poor performance and 'going down' material. The only positive is that we have 10 games to go.

"We have got to find the fighters in the team and the performance today did not epitomise that. We cannot play like that and hope to stay up.

"But we are fortunate that we’ve got 10 games and that’s enough. It’s a four-team league now and we play everyone around us.

"There was a certain edginess and you could see that in our play. We lost our shape. Normally we are a good attacking team, but today we were poor on the ball. You can only say that the pressure got to them.

"I can’t see any positives but we have to stick together as a staff and as a team, and fight."

On the hostile atmosphere from the Newcastle fans: "As a coach you get through this. There are ups and downs. It’s not nice, but I can fully understand it after that."

The Premier League show rolls on.

Can Leicester extend their lead at the top of the table. They have just kicked off against Watford.

Follow the action from that game here.

Lots of reaction to Mike's (1718) thoughts on Newcastle's lack of recent success.

Quincy: Over expectation!!! It wouldn't be so bad if more than 1 or 2 players showed commitment every game and the players even put in more than 20% effort. We have a right to be angry at the lackluster performances week in week out. 

Ken: Yet those same players sign for NUFC and pick up their massive wages. Poor players. 

Richard: Mike's ill informed analysis of Newcastle's woes perpetuates that myth about Newcastle fans having unrealistic expectations. Not one Newcastle fan expects anything from the team anymore, after years of turgid displays, excuses and a total lack of leadership.

Johnny: You mean the same fans that pay their hard earned money to turn up week after week and cheer teams like Keegan's entertainers to nearly winning the league? You can't blame the fans for the complete lack of effort being shown by this team. To even suggest that the fans are the problem is ridiculous. Like Sir Bobby used to say, the fans are the club. 

Darren: We all know it's you Mike Ashley.

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Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is giving his post-match interview now and he is remaining defiant.

"There are 10 games to go and we have to show fight," he says. "We have to stick together."

When asked if he thinks he will be given the chance to keep them up, he adds: "I hope so."

More from McClaren shortly.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce: “The dejection amongst us all is clear. It was so important to see this game out. We know how important three points would have been today. 

“If we’d have got the win today, we’d have had a gap for next weekend when we’re not playing. We dropped a massive clanger in those last few seconds. With the amount of people we had in that box, it’s baffling. We didn’t have the composure to keep the ball, play out and see the game out properly. We paid a very heavy price.

“It’s concentration, making the right decisions when you’re tired, being brave enough to cut the danger out and not leaving it someone else.

“I’m delighted with the chances we made, other than we could have finished them better. Then again, one goal isn’t enough for us. We can’t find a clean sheet – we have a bogey hanging over us.

“I’ve seen for a long time that we have enough to stay up, we aren’t getting the results."

Burton and Wigan, the top two, were both held 1-1 by Crewe and Peterborough respectively.

At the foot, Colchester slipped back to three points behind Crewe with a 2-0 defeat by Port Vale, Blackpool stay in the relegation mire after losing 3-0 at Millwall while Oldham's game at home to Swindon was postponed.

Danny Mills
Former England defender on Final Score

Danny Mills says he thinks ex-Leicester boss Nigel Pearson would make a good fit at Newcastle if Steve McClaren is sacked tonight...

"If there's going to be a change of manager, he needs to be an abrasive character. Nigel Pearson is available. Give him nine games, see what happens and he might take it if they give him a bonus at the end of the season for staying up."

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Mike

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe: “We should have won the game. When you concede a goal late on after you’ve worked so hard to get in front, it’s disappointing.

“It’s a difficult place to come. You have to hang on, be professional. Sometimes you have go long and we didn’t do that. It would have been a massive three points, so we’re devastated.

“We didn’t lose and we got a point. The manager always says that if you can’t win, you shouldn’t lose. We’ve got a long break until our next game, but we’d like them to come thick and fast. We have to stay positive.”

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: “For 85 minutes, we were not at the level I expect of Southampton. I think we lack confidence at the moment. They made it very difficult with their defensive organisation.

“We played better football with one player less on the pitch.

“The red card was a one-on-one situation. If it’s a foul, then it’s a red card. You have to accept that.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

Heading into the final hour of the Battle of the five-a-sides. What a marathon effort this has been. Follow the closing stages here.

Meanwhile, in the Sport Relief Battle of the 5-a-sides, Robbie Savage needs some of what West Ham were having this afternoon...

Follow the final hour of the 57 hour contest here

Derby are up into fifth with a 2-0 win at home to Huddersfield, and Cardiff have edged up into seventh with a 2-0 win at Bristol City.

Leeds beat Bolton to keep Wanderers in relegation trouble, but bottom club Charlton earned a much-needed 2-1 win at Brentford. 

Rotherham, also in trouble, carved out a 1-0 win at play-off chasing Sheffield Wednesday.

Check out all the results here.

Stuart Feather: I can't believe that, with NUFC's dire need for goals we play 1 up top at home. Whole team like statues. McClaren clueless

 Paul Moss: Irony is Ashley backed mcClaren with funds. He backed wrong manager with funds . Sad for toon army but no sympathy for Ashley

  Lewis Hutchinson: I'm so lost for words at Newcastle this season. This is the lowest the club has ever been in the modern era #goingdown, external

There is only one positive that Newcastle and Norwich can take away from this afternoon: Virgil van Dijk's late goal to deny Sunderland. But for that, they would be three points from safety. However, Swansea's win has cut the four teams at the bottom further adrift.

If we accept that Villa are gone already, we are getting the early signs of three into two for the remaining relegation places.

  David Baker: West Ham have class, and resilience. Can't get enough of this side at the moment. Great to be a Hammer.  

 Andy Rudd:  Absolute shambles 2 nil up with a penalty, and we end up losing 3-2 shocking absolutely shocking   

Richard: Typical Everton, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!  

Save the date: 20th March

Ken, Newcastle.

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What a game! It had everything. Five goals, a sending off, a missed penalty and a huge comeback. The away fans at Goodison are delirious. Most of the home fans left the ground after the third Hammers goal.