• Premier League

Newcastle keeper apologises to fans

Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot has made an apology to the club's stunned supporters after Sunday's crushing 3-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Sunderland.

Elliot saw two Sunderland goals fly past him after he replaced the injured Tim Krul in the second half at St James' Park and he admitted the mood in his side's dressing room after the game was as low as he can remember.

"We have got to hold our hands up, we didn't do what we needed to do and we let ourselves and everyone else down," Elliot told Newcastle's official website. "Everyone is gutted, hugely disappointed, devastated - forgetting the three points, about what it means to everyone.

"This is the lowest point. You dream of playing in one of these derbies and I am so proud to play for Newcastle United, but then that happens, and it cannot happen again. We have to look at ourselves and ask work out why we played like that after some good performances.

"It wasn't good enough, there are no excuses, and we have to make sure that this hurt drives us on now over the final five games. It feels awful and I never want to feel like this again.

"It shouldn't have happened in the first place and we have to make sure that we finish our last five games strong. We have to carry this defeat forward and turn it into some sort of positive."

Elliot may be in line to enjoy a run in the Newcastle side in their final five Premier League games, after it was confirmed that a dislocated shoulder suffered by first choice keeper Krul will keep him out of action for the rest of this season.

"Tim isn't good and I'm gutted for him," added Elliot. "I'm not one of those people that would ever wish an injury on somebody to get my chance.

"He's a brave lad so if he had to go to hospital then that tells you it isn't good. It was a bad day anyway but losing someone like Tim has made it even worse."

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