AFTER failing to prevent Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce from leaving St James’ Park with a victory, Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton last night admitted that inconsistency is likely to be the story of their season.

While the Magpies have impressed the rest of the Premier League by the way in which they have slotted back into the top flight, there have also been annoying defeats.

Last night’s 2-1 reversal to Rovers followed disappointing losses to Stoke City and Blackpool at St James’ Park, even though there have been impressive wins over Everton, Sunderland and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Hughton said: “It is frustrating and we have to address that. What we did know is that it would be a difficult season for us. On the back of three very good results, what will happen is that every now and again there is a result that is disappointing, like this.

“It is about trying to get a level of consistency; we knew it would be difficult because of the quality and strength of this division. Whenever there has been a negative there has always been a plus. We just need that consistency.”

Allardyce confirmed afterwards that he had adopted different defensive tactics to try to stifle Newcastle’s attacking threat. Apart from Andy Carroll, who scored his seventh of the season with a stunning header, Blackburn achieved what he had hoped by restricting the home team’s opportunities.

“Blackburn have played a formation and come away with three points,” said Hughton, whose side were defeated by goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Jason Roberts. “They defended in numbers. They had to in the second half. We lacked that quality to break them down.

Credit will go to Sam.

“Frustrated is the word that comes to mind. Overall was it a game we deserved to lose?

No. Sam came with five at the back, four in midfield, one up front to make it difficult. They capitalised on our errors.

They had to defend well.

“We conceded two poor goals. It is uncharacteristic of Cheik Tiote, he has been excellent.

He was caught in possession for the first for Pedersen and he should have cleared it, he will be aware of that. He will learn from that.”

It was an indication of just how highly-rated Carroll has become that Allardyce, a huge admirer of strikers with an aerial presence, changed the way Blackburn usually play to cope with his threat.

The former Newcastle manager chose to play Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet as three centrebacks, rather than the two he would normally adopt, just to deal with the 21-year-old’s partnership with Shola Ameobi, who went off injured at the break.

“We had to change the system to cope with the attack of Newcastle because they have a potent front two, good delivery from wide, it is an outstanding force, we had to stop that,” said Allardyce after Blackburn won on their fifth consecutive trip to St James.

“They didn’t expect us to play like that. We caught them on the back foot early on. That knocked them back and we got the goal. We defended extremely well. I can’t remember a clear cut chance apart from the goal.”

Neither manager, meanwhile, was willing to comment on an incident shortly after Carroll’s second-half equaliser in which Pedersen claimed to have been punched in the stomach by Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton. Barton brushed off the claims as a push when there was a break in proceedings.

“Somebody has mentioned it,” said Hughton. “I haven’t seen it. It was a physical game at times. Pedersen went down soft for a free-kick that led to their first goal.

“There were a lot of stoppages, time-wasting. You have to cope with things like that.”

Allardyce said: “I’m not going to talk about that.”