Peter Reid branded Sunderland's performances as "sad" in the derby defeat at Newcastle - admitting he now faces the biggest challenge of his career.

Sunderland boss Reid's future is under scrutiny again after Newcastle United's comfortable 2-0 win in the North East derby.

And Reid refused to hide from the heat as he admitted: "We were poor - second best all over the pitch.

"It was a derby game You ask for desire to win tackles and try and create things. It disappointed me we never got any of those things.

"I like footballers and always try to protect my players, but I can't protect them after that .

"It was such a big game for our supporters and we let everyone down - it was sad."

Reid was quizzed about whether he now faced the biggest challenge of his managerial career and he admitted: "It looks like it.

"We have lost the last three games and we've looked really weak. I have just told the players we are too easy to roll over.

"Alan Shearer won the first tackle of the game and it went on like that. Newcastle have been to Kiev and were supposed to be tired - but there was only one team tired out there and it wasn't them."

Newcastle counterpart Sir Bobby Robson was in buoyant mood and said: "We knew they would come here with a tremendous urge to try and strangle us in a packed midfield and up front.

"But we needed to get in front and once it happened I think it was always going to be our game at our ground.

"We've had the doom and gloom merchants but that has never been the situation here - you just need time in football sometimes and we'll be okay now."

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