No Excuses From Ameobi

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Sammy Ameobi refused to offer any excuses following Newcastle United's 2-0 defeat at Southampton on Sunday, and admits they have to put right an "unacceptable" performance.

Goals from Adam Lallana and Gaston Ramirez put the Magpies to the sword at St. Mary's Stadium, as they slipped to a third successive Premier League loss.

However, academy graduate Ameobi - who was a half-time introduction on the South Coast - would not use a packed treatment table or a busy fixture schedule as a reason for Sunday's poor display.

Instead, he simply explained that United were well below par.

"Everyone is so disappointed," the young forward told nufc.co.uk.

"We weren't good enough and that is hard to take.

"We've got so many injuries and had another really busy week as well with the Europa League.

"But that is not an excuse for the performance we put in out there today. We were too sloppy at times.

"We are slowly creeping down the table and we have to start getting results as soon as possible to get us back towards where we want, and need, to be."

More than 2,000 United supporters made the long trip to Hampshire to watch their side in action on Sunday.

And Ameobi admitted: "We can't apologise enough.

"It was an unacceptable display and if I had travelled all the way down to watch that I would be devastated.

"Hopefully we can get back on the right track at Stoke on Wednesday night and give them something to cheer about."