Skipper – we were too open with Man U

JAMAAL Lascelles reckons Newcastle paid the price for being too open against Manchester United as he revealed the team are targeting a top-10 finish this term.

The United skipper admits the team can perform better than they have over a start to the season which has seen them pick up seven points but lose heavily at home to Brighton and Manchester United.

A mixed display on Saturday night saw them come within 10 minutes of a point against the Red Devils on a day when they were second best.

Boss Steve Bruce received some criticism from supporters for the way the team set up but Lascelles feels a lack of discipline in the latter stages cost the team.

H said: “We were quite upset and angry at ourselves really.

“We started off pretty well – the way the team was set out and the instructions given, we fancied ourselves and we went a goal up.

“At 1-1 when Karl Darlow saved the penalty we thought ‘Is it one of those days for us’ but I think we pushed on too much.

“We maybe should have realised we were playing against Manchester United and kind of just shut up shop a little bit more and gone for the draw and looked to counter-attack them a bit.

“In the end we were just a bit too open and it killed us.”

Lascelles said the team are targeting the top 10 with what he believes is the best group of players he has been involved in.

He added: “I do think our performances can be better than what they have been,.

“We still have things to work on and every game is a learning curve. The more we play together the more we will gel.

“Since being at Newcastle, this is the strongest team we have had. Our mentality is we need to try and finish higher than we did last year.

“Our end game is to try and get top 10 if possible.”