Flournoy was disappointed in his own performance

"We just did not want it as much as they did," Flournoy told BBC Radio Newcastle after the game.

"I blame no-one but myself for that. I made one or two bad coaching decisions and I did not put us in a position to take the opportunities we had.

"I will not pass the buck on to anyone else. I take all the criticism going."

Interview: Newcastle Eagles coach Fab Flournoy

The match took place at the Newcastle Arena, but home advantage was not enough to stop Plymouth's Carlton Aaron from scoring 25 points and Gaylon Moore taking 19.

"Some time in the future we will have another opportunity," said Flournoy. "Just like a phoenix we will rise again."