OF all the Premiership managers, Sir Bobby Robson seems the most fireproof and immune to censure.

But the Newcastle United boss has left himself wide open to criticism for one comment he made in the wake of the Old Trafford horror show.

"We don't defend like that at home," he said - and ever since his team have done their damnedest to prove him wrong.

In conceding four goals against Internazionale, Newcastle had their naivety brutally exposed at the highest level.

And while the overriding memory from Sunday's St James' Park siege is of Newcastle's dramatic finale, Everton illustrated why the Magpies remain a class below the Premiership's high-rollers.

No wonder Robson reflected: "I kept muttering to myself that we'd win the league if we could defend like Everton did."

Robson never tires of telling those who dare to point an accusing finger at his side's defensive frailties that he has the youngest backline in the Premiership.

But as he waits for them to mature together, how many more errors will he allow his beleaguered defenders to make before he takes affirmative action?

George Graham, who knows a thing or two about the art of defending, was distinctly unimpressed with Newcastle's rearguard on Sunday.

He said: "Newcastle looked very jittery and lacking in confidence at the back. There weren't too many boys at the back who wanted to take responsibility, and get the ball and pass it.

"They looked very hesitant and even Shay Given, who was outstanding last season, wasn't at his best. When you're a Premiership manager, it's very easy to say you need another one or two defenders. But are the right players available?

"If you can't get them, you have to improve what you've got, and you can only do that by working on the training ground."

Robson appeared exasperated with his defenders' sloppiness following the Worthington Cup defeat to Everton, when Newcastle twice threw away a lead.

In the wake of Inter's goal after just 65 seconds last Wednesday, Robson joked: "I promised the players that if they hadn't conceded a goal inside the first two minutes against Everton, I'd go into the centre circle and jump."

But as he ponders a move for Chelsea's John Terry and Arsenal's Matthew Upson when the transfer window opens next month, Robson knows Barcelona could cause untold damage to his shaky defence.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.