STEVE MCCLAREN has called on his Newcastle United players to toughen up after they saw a 1-0 lead against Manchester City turn into a 6-1 defeat.

Sergio Aguero scored five goals in the space of 20 minutes as the Magpies completely capitulated in a game where Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his first goal in Newcastle colours.

McClaren was left to rue a 13-minute spell after the interval that saw Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne run riot, undoing Newcastle’s good work in the first half.

And McClaren was disappointed to see the visitors’ exertions come to nought as City outlined their title credentials in devastating fashion.

“I think we carried on the level of performance from last week,” said McClaren, who felt that Mitrovic should not have been denied a second goal which was ruled out for offside. “We came here to win. We were bold in our 4-4-2, and that first half, we really shook Man City.

“We scored the first goal. Second goal which was disallowed was onside – we should have had that. There were other opportunities, and it might have been a different story.

“The goal just before half-time was kind of the goal that gave them a lift, and the second half we were done by Aguero and mistakes by ourselves. Aguero showed his world-class finishing which he is capable of doing.”

McClaren admitted that his side’s display over the 90 minutes showed the good and the bad in his squad.

He added: “It’s bound to be an issue. You concede five goals in 13 minutes. You’ve got an issue there. We’ve showed today what our strengths are and what this team is capable of doing. But we’ve also shown what our weaknesses are and what we’re capable of not doing.

“This result and performance – we know we have to toughen up and get ready for the next spell of games. The first eight have been tough.

“You watch Man City and I have done a lot, they can score eight to ten goals every week. The goals were disappointing in our respect, and we caused our own problems, but you have to give credit to Aguero and Manchester City. That’s why they are the top team in the Premier League, with a front four that you’d do well to keep out.

“We did score first which helped us, we should have had a second which keeps us in the game. But once the second, the third goes in, we need to handle that better.”