STEVE McCLAREN has urged football’s decision makers to consider all avenues to assist referees and has identified rugby’s use of the Television Match Official (TMO) as a possible option to improve things after a week when Newcastle United were left feeling cheated.

The Magpies successfully appealed against the red card issued to skipper Fabricio Coloccini against Sunderland last Sunday, although the result and defeat of the Wear-Tyne derby still stood.

Newcastle have also admitted a from the Football Association charge of failing to control their players following the Coloccini incident, when players surrounded referee Robert Madley to complain. If a referee is surrounded for more than three minutes a charge cannot be overturned.

But McClaren, who will now put his focus on this afternoon’s visit of Stoke City to St James’ Park, still thinks the wrongful dismissal which was dished out for Coloccini’s barge on Steven Fletcher is another indication that football as a sport can improve.

He has watched the Rugby World Cup develop over the last few weeks with interest and hinted that the use of the TMO could be an option for the FA to consider in a bid to avoid getting decisions wrong.

“It’s a different culture and a different game (rugby),” said McClaren. “But we can learn from all sports. They have introduced the TMO, which is an interesting concept to challenge decisions.

“We have made progress with goalline technology but it will be a few years before we’re challenging decisions, the sin-bin might come after that.”

Newcastle are awaiting punishment from the FA for the charge. McClaren said: “It was harsh. We admit we did surround the referee, but there are mitigating circumstances for that.

“I would have done exactly the same. I did approach the referee at half-time, just for an explanation. So we’re obviously appealing against that and hopefully they will turn it around, like they did with the red card.”

The defeat to Sunderland has left Newcastle in the relegation zone, second from bottom ahead of this afternoon’s visit of Stoke City. There have been signs of progress in recent weeks, and he is convinced things can take a turn for the better.

“You make your own luck and we’ve got to turn that around. It’s not just a football thing but a mentality thing also,” said McClaren.

“Along the way some bizarre things are happening, but you’ve just got to get on with it.

No sign of a hangover after the game – the league position dictates there cannot be?

“What's pleased me after every game is that we've not let it get us down too much and got on with the job. The last week definitely – from Tuesday it was: 'Right, let's reflect. Let's put some reality into it, some perspective, and let's once again focus on the preparation.' So from Tuesday onwards the focus has been very good.”

McClaren was encouraged by the reaction of the Newcastle fans after last Sunday’s defeat to Sunderland, when the majority of them applauded them off the pitch. He also made a point of returning the gesture, which is something he learned in Holland with FC Twente.

“I once stormed off in Holland with the centre forward and the president kicked me back out so that taught me a lesson in that,” said McClaren.

He added: “The fans are important. It is something which, when I was in Holland was kind of a ritual. What our president would say and he used to insist on it was OK, it might have been good, bad or indifferent but there were always some fans who went to the game who appreciated the effort put in and they would probably stay behind and we had to applaud them.

“It was a tradition in Holland and in Germany and I thought it was a good one. I don’t think it will take off here but we are just trying to reconnect and get closer to the fans.”

With Jack Colback sidelined for at least six weeks there is a greater onus on the likes of Cheik Tiote and Vurnon Anita to slot in and do an effective job at the heart of the team.

Tiote’s first two starts since returning from his own injury has seen him collect two yellow cards before being replaced at half-time, which must be a cause of concern.

McClaren said: “I thought he was excellent first-half last week at Sunderland. He got 45 minutes against Norwich – which he needed – and I thought he was excellent, didn't want to take him off.

“But I just felt that we needed to attack this and score, there was no point in him and Vurnon being there, we needed to go for it.

“I know Cheik. Emotional control and control in a game is one of the key elements he faces. Already we've had three games with ten men and we've got to learn from that. So play with a kind of intensity but that has to be controlled – and that includes Cheik.”