Missed chances cost us, says Hayden

Tomer Hemed hooked home the winner five minutes after the break at the Amex Stadium, as Rafa Benítez’s side missed their chance to move back into the Premier League top four.

The winning goal came after a first half in which United had a number of sights of goal, with Mikel Merino, Joselu and Ayoze Perez all going agonisingly close to finding the net.

But it didn’t quite happen for the Magpies, and Hayden – who started alongside Merino in the middle of the park – says that the manner of the defeat was tough to take, given how much pressure his side had applied in the first period.

“It wasn’t the best spectacle – both sides were much of a muchness, really. It’s just about taking your chances. It’s about making sure they’re good chances, and that we take them when they come. I don’t think we got enough on target to test the goalkeeper really,” he told nufc.co.uk.

“To lose the game on a set piece was really disappointing, because it was a simple block, then a knock down into the middle and then a free shot, so it’s disappointing to lose it like that.

“In the first half, we should have really taken a few more of our chances, but they had chances as well – it was quite an open game, which wasn’t what we wanted, but that happens in football. It’s just about regrouping now for next Sunday’s game, and hopefully we can put it right.”

The narrow defeat to Chris Hughton’s side comes after wins over West Ham United, Swansea City and Stoke City.

Twenty-two-year-old Hayden insists that the result will prove to be a learning experience for the Magpies, who have one of the youngest squads in the top flight.

“We had a good run of form and we’ve lost today and it’s come to an end, but we're a good group in there and we’ll learn from a defeat,” he said. “We’re probably one of the youngest Premier League squads out there so we’re still learning every day and every game. We’ll learn from this game today and take that into next Sunday.

“We’ve got a young spine to the team, and we’re learning all the time. We’re going to make mistakes, we’re going to have games when we’re not at our best and we’re going to have games where we are at our best - it’s as simple as that.

“Today, we didn’t really get started as we wanted to and it kind of set the tone for the rest of the game, and we wanted to change that at half time. I think we came out and were a little bit more solid second half, but to concede the goal was disappointing.

“But I thought the last half an hour we got into our stride a little bit and created a few more chances, but with them defending deep and compact like they were it was quite difficult to break down. But that’s part of the job we have to learn – not just defending and counter attacking, but breaking teams down when they put ten men behind the ball.”

Next weekend sees Liverpool head to St. James’ Park for the last game before another brief international break.

“It’s another massive game, but the all big games for us,” said Hayden.

“That’s the way we have to look at it, because every point is valuable. Well learn from this, regroup and get ready to go again.”