Newcastle boss admits the mistake that cost them at Coventry.. and sends fans a surprise message

After a night Newcastle fans will not forget, head coach Matthias Jaissle gave an unusually frank verdict and admitted the one thing that really cost his side.

The German did not stop at analysing the game. He sent a direct message to the supporters, while Frank Lampard revealed what changed everything at half-time.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the 4-1 defeat at Coventry City on Monday night, Jaissle said: “That’s hard. That’s punishment in this league. We controlled many phases but it’s not enough.” He added: “In the boxes the games are decided. In both boxes we were not clean.”

He went on: “It’s something we need to learn fast. The momentum was there. We have a young squad but that shouldn’t be an excuse,” before addressing the fans: “I apologise to fans because they deserved a different result.”

On Bazoumana Toure’s injury, Jaissle said: “Let’s see. It’s too early to say anything. Hopefully it’s nothing serious,” adding that the players returning from injury need more game minutes.

Frank Lampard, meanwhile, called it a “complete performance” and said: “We played like the team that we want to be here.” He added: “We are going to be a relative underdog in pretty much every game, so we have to maximise everything beyond the limit.”

Lampard explained that his staff fixed some tactical details on Coventry’s left-hand side at half-time to deal with Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes in transition, and his side went on to score three times after the break.

Goals from Jack Rudoni, Sidiki Cherif, Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni, against a Sven Botman strike, gave Coventry their first Premier League home win in more than 25 years, while Newcastle turn their attention to Aston Villa next.