NEWCASTLE UNITED head coach John Carver has accused some of his players of not being able to handle the pressure after they suffered a fifth straight defeat to Sunderland.

Jermain Defoe’s first half wonder strike secured a vital win for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and means the Magpies have now failed to win against their rivals since August 2011.

In the build up to yesterday’s game Carver said he would not accept his players being criticised for a lack of effort, but the head coach, who still harbours ambitions of leading the club beyond the end of the season, admitted there were players in his squad who struggle to handle the occasion.

“I thought we were dreadful in the first half,” Carver said. “I said before the game that no side of mine would be criticised for not closing people down and not working, but I was wrong.

“We were second best in every department, certainly in the midfield areas and the front three.

“I would have been doing summersaults in we had gone in at half time 0-0. That’s how poor we were and it was a fantastic strike by Jermain Defoe. It was a world class goal and we came in 1-0 down at half time.

“We did pick it up in the second half but it still wasn’t good enough. We huffed and puffed but we couldn’t blow the house down.

“This has got nothing to do with people having flip flops on or off. I think it is down to the fact that we were second best.

“Pressure is a funny thing when you play in an environment like this. Some people can handle it, some people can’t.

“We’ve got a group of people that have played in several derbies and there’s a little bit of a pattern there. Let’s face it five in a row is a long run. Maybe one or two people can’t handle it but I won’t go into names.

“I am absolutely embarrassed to be part of it, but I am a part of it and I have to deal with it.”

Carver defended goalkeeper Tim Krul, who was criticised for fist pumping Defoe in the tunnel at half time moments after his wonder strike, and revealed the Dutchman almost missed the game through illness.

He said: “Tim Krul is the most passionate guy about this football club. He loves this club and he loves the fans but sometimes when somebody produces a bit of brilliance fellow professionals appreciate it and that’s maybe why that happened.

“I got a phone call from the doctor on the morning saying Tim had been up all night being sick and possibly might not make the game. That was on a knife edge.”

The Magpies head coach also defended his back five and Jonas Gutierrez, who made his first start for the club since August 2013.

“I thought the makeshift back four stuck to their guns along with the goalkeeper and actually kept us in the game because without those guys we would have been in big trouble.

“Jonas gave me everything. He is void of any criticism along with Ryan Taylor, who played right-back, Daryl Janmaat, who played centre-back, Mike Williamson, who played on the left side which he isn’t comfortable with, and Jack Colback, who should have been in midfield. Those five are void of any criticism.”

The Magpies sit nine points above the bottom three with seven games to play and the head coach admitted his side are now looking over their shoulders.

He said: “We only got 35 points. You need 40 points. We’ve got seven games left and we are down to the bare bones and you are thinking where the next points are coming from, but we have to turn this around somehow.

“Maybe I’ve run over ten black cats but I don’t know why I’m just not getting the rub.

“We only had one half decent shot for their keeper to save and that’s a concern. The performance disappointed me the most.”