Seething Toon boss demands answers

FURIOUS Chris Hughton kept his players locked in the dressing room for over an hour after their 3-1 capitulation at the Hawthorns yesterday.

And the spitting mad Newcastle United manager would only allow them to leave after they had promised him they have what it takes to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle this season.

Hughton tried to play down the hour-long inquest into the latest woeful defensive display away from St James’ Park, insisting that the grilling of his players in the dressing room was “normal” after such a disappointing afternoon.

But the signs are starting to show that the Toon boss is feeling the heat, just 48 hours after he was forced to deny rumours that senior players are picking the Newcastle team.

“There is always an inquest after games. Things are said and people vent their anger on certain things. It is a normal thing to do,” said Hughton.

“We did not do well enough to win a football match. It is normal after a result as disappointing as that. We did not start very well and we gave away awful goals.

“I am not happy with the performance, especially after we had got such a good result against Chelsea the previous week.”

Hughton has picked up just two points from the last five Premier League games and this away-day shambles follows hot on the heels of the 5-1 defeat at Bolton, but Hughton insists his side have enough to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.

He said: “What is said in the dressing room stays there. Everything we do, we do as a team. Our season has been a season of highs and lows.

“We had a disappointing away result at Bolton and we put that right against Chelsea. I don’t know whether this is the most disappointing display. We conceded five goals at Bolton.

“Yes, I was pleased with the reaction from the players in the inquest. I wanted to see that they are determined to put this behind them as quickly as possible.’’

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo said his side’s “brilliant” performance was the perfect response to fans who criticised him for making nine changes ahead of the defeat by Ipswich Town — which cost the Baggies their first chance of a League Cup semi-final for 28 years.

“It makes up for Ipswich and I thought we were brilliant. Our football was exceptional at times. We scored great goals and had the majority of the game,” he said.

“All the players are playing with confidence and they are enjoying what they are doing, but no one is going to get carried away.’’

Yesterday was the latest example of the fact that Di Matteo is building a team capable of fulfilling his ambition to end Albion’s yo-yo existence over the last ten years.

“I won’t be looking at the table. I don’t care where we are. I will only look after our last game in May. That is when it counts. I am more than happy that we have 22 points at this stage,” added Di Matteo.