Matt calls the Toon

Jose blasts his timid defence and toothless strikers as Matt lifts Toon out of drop zone

JOSE MOURINHO took at swipe at his defence as Matt Ritchie lifted Newcastle out of the bottom three.

The Manchester United boss accused them of failing to challenge Florian Lejeune for a header that led to Ritchie’s winner.

Paul Pogba, who left Lejeune unattended, was subbed immediately after the goal.

“It wasn’t a dangerous freekick,” said Mourinho (right).

“But a Newcastle player jumped and two of my players look at him and stay on the floor.”

He was also critical of his attack, adding: “We could have been here for 10 hours and not scored a goal. I have

to be disappointed. We train, work, organise. Players have their individual jobs, they have their responsibilities. You know who lost the challenge in the air.”

Huddersfield’s win over Bournemouth earlier in the day saw the Terriers move out of the relegation zone and Rafa Benitez’s Toon slip into it.

Mourinho, whose team have kept a league-best 15 clean sheets this season, added: “Newcastle fought like animals. Animals is a good word. It’s a compliment.

“They gave everything they had. It didn’t happen for us today. They have the best feeling of all. They fought for their points and had probably had just a point in mind.

“We made a mistake but then they gave their lives to keep a clean sheet.

“Were Newcastle lucky? Yes. But sometimes you attract that with your state of mind and they fought for their lives and that is a beautiful thing in football.” Referring to his mentor, former Toon boss Bobby Robson (left), Mourinho added: “Sir Bobby told me after some defeats don’t be so sad and think of the happiness of the other guys. I know Benitez is very happy with three points, the gods of football were with them.”