Barton created both Newcastle goals in the 2-1 win at West Ham

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has warned his team-mates they will be made to pay if they continue to concede early goals in the Premier League.

The Magpies have let in the first goal in six of their nine Premier League games this season, coming back to get a result in three matches.

"It's frustrating, we continually give ourselves a mountain to climb," Barton told BBC Newcastle.

"We've got to stop giving teams head starts, we've got to cut that out."

Barton added: "I think the stats show that if you concede the first goal in the Premier League then 80% of the time you don't get a result.

"We conceded two against Wigan, and got a result, and conceded first here today and went on to win the game, but we've got to cut that out."

The Magpies were 2-1 winners away at West Ham on Saturday after conceding an opener to Carlton Cole, marking a second away win in the Premier League.

Newcastle's inconsistency has been evident this season as they won at Everton in the league and Chelsea in the Carling Cup but have lost at home to Stoke City and Blackpool.

The Magpies' only home win in four top flight games saw them thrash Aston Villa 6-0, while Fabricio Coloccini rescued a point at home to Wigan with an injury-time equaliser.

"The thing with us at the minute is you couldn't call what we're going to do, we're the proverbial coupon-buster," Barton added.

"It's exciting sometimes, but when you're playing in it, and you're expected to win at home against certain teams I get frustrated, so I can understand how frustrated our fans get."

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