STEVE MCCLAREN has dismissed crisis talk at St James’ Park and has asked for Newcastle United to be judged after ten games as the wait for his first Premier League win since taking over goes on.

An Odio Ighalo double did the damage to earn Watford a 2-1 victory on Tyneside where Newcastle were horrific defensively and ineffective up front once more.

It means the Magpies have claimed just two points from McClaren’s first six matches in charge and he now has the prospect of difficult games against Manchester City and Chelsea.

There is then a visit of Norwich City before facing Sunderland in the tenth match of the campaign, so the head coach knows how difficult it will be and he is under no illusions.

He said: “There are a lot of things to do, there are things wrong but there are things right. I have seen enough and know enough. I know this Premier League to know what it takes. We have to find a way to win.

“After six games that’s what we are trying to do. You are where you deserve to be. That’s where we are. I said judge us after ten games and I would still say the same now. The next two are tough but this is a tough job.

“There was no way we were thinking we could come in and turn the page and things would change. We are changing a lot of things and we have had good, bad and indifferent so far. I said it was hard and it is.”

There boos from the Newcastle fans at the final whistle and regular jeers during the afternoon as Watford regularly embarrassed a home side which had spent more than £50m in the summer.

But McClaren is convinced that Newcastle can turn things around under his watch, even though he realises how difficult the job he has.

He said: “I can understand the fans’ reactions and I think the majority understand. It’s not a crisis, it’s not a time to panic. We wouldn’t do that anyway no matter what stage we were at because we have too much experience to know that. We have to stick together.

“We will get a lot of criticism, not just from media but from fans. We have to be calm and together. I know, they know, there is a lot to do.

“We have to look forward to Wednesday and want to play in that Capital One Cup tie, the players should want to play and we will go again then in to Chelsea and Man City in the league. It’s a challenge. It’s a great club, huge club. When you are trying to turn things round it’s never easy.”