STEVE McCLAREN’S position as Newcastle United head coach is hanging by a thread after his side crashed to a calamitous 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.

On an acrimonious afternoon at St James’ Park, the Newcastle fans sang “You’re getting sacked in the morning” at the former England boss and also chanted “Steve McClaren – you’re taking us down”.

It remains to be seen whether Mike Ashley opts to pull the trigger and sack McClaren, but it is hard to see him surviving such a damaging result and reaction from the stands.

The defeat leaves Newcastle a point adrift of safety, but it was the manner of their capitulation that was most alarming.

Playing against a Bournemouth side who most pundits’ favourites for relegation at the start of the season, the Magpies were outplayed from start to finish.

The Cherries claimed a two-goal lead thanks to an own goal from Steven Taylor and a fine strike from Josh King, and while Ayoze Perez clawed a goal back, Newcastle’s misery was complete when Charlie Daniels completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Newcastle’s players took the unusual step of issuing a statement less than two hours before kick-off, outlining their support for McClaren. It was a shame they didn’t provide proof of that support on the pitch.

The Magpies were dreadful throughout, and were fortunate not to be more than a goal behind at the break.

Emmanuel Riviere, who was a surprise starter after previously playing for just 18 minutes of the season in the Premier League, narrowly failed to reach a dangerous first-minute cross from Moussa Sissoko, but was dreadful from that point onwards. His half-time departure for Aleksandar Mitrovic felt like an act of mercy as much as a tactical change.

Sissoko was equally as poor, running down a series of blind alleys down the right-hand side and wasting a handful of decent positions with some poor crossing.

Perez hooked a 15th-minute half-volley over the crossbar, but by that stage Bournemouth had already settled into the neat passing game and were dominating proceedings.

Max Gradel stabbed an early shot over the crossbar after the Newcastle defence failed to deal with a corner, before Benik Afobe hooked a half-volley over the bar after full-back Adam Smith ghosted past Georginio Wijnaldum, who continues to regard defending as above him.

The visitors were extremely unfortunate to lose the reverse fixture 1-0 after creating a host of chances, so while there was a huge element of fortune about their opening goal, perhaps it was payback for events in November.

Gradel played King down the left-hand side, the forward delivered a low cross into the area, and a sliding Taylor diverted the ball past a helpless Rob Elliot.

With the visiting fans breaking into a chorus of “You’re getting sacked in the morning”, Newcastle’s players struggled to regroup, and while Taylor saw a shot at the right end of the field deflect narrowly wide of the post, the interval arrived with the home side in a sorry state.

They were no better in the second half, indeed if anything, their performance became even more ineffective after the break.

Bournemouth should have scored a second after Jamaal Lascelles senselessly conceded possession in the 51st minute, but the visitors failed to take advantage of a two-on-two break. The ball eventually ended up with Smith, but Elliot was able to tip the full-back’s low shot around the post.

Newcastle finally created another chance of their own as Mitrovic curled narrowly past the post shortly after the hour mark, and they recorded their first shot on target a couple of minutes later, with Daryl Janmaat playing a one-two with Wijnaldum before drilling in an effort that Artur Boruc tipped around the post.

However, Bournemouth continued to dominate, and deservedly claimed their second goal in the 70th minute. It was as simple as they come, with Matt Ritchie’s through ball dissecting the Newcastle defence, and King running between Taylor and Lascelles to lash home.

The visitors’ second goal sparked a furious reaction from the home ranks, with Newcastle fans joining in chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and serenading their head coach with a chorus of “Steve McClaren – you’re taking us down”.

One supporter flung his season ticket onto the roof of the dug-outs to show his disgust, but the hosts pulled a goal back from nowhere with nine minutes remaining.

Shelvey floated an excellent through ball over the Bournemouth defence, and Perez broke clear to slot home.

The goal gave Newcastle some late hope, but the visitors would have claimed another goal had Elliot not produced a fine save to parry Lewis Grabban’s long-range strike or had Ritchie not flashed a low drive narrowly wide.

Their third goal eventually arrived in stoppage time, with Daniels cutting in from the left-hand side and drilling a superb low strike across Elliot and into the bottom corner.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Dummett (Anita 31); Colback, Shelvey; Sissoko, Perez, Wijnaldum; Riviere (Mitrovic 46).

Subs (not used): Darlow (gk), Aarons, Saivet, Gouffran, Doumbia.

Bournemouth (4-4-2): Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie (Distin 90), Gosling, Surman, Gradel (Pugh 60); King, Afobe (Grabban 69).

Subs (not used): Federici (gk), Elphick, O’Kane, Murray.