GRAEME Souness last night hailed the attitude of his young players after a patched-up Newcastle side salvaged some much-needed pride at Old Trafford.

The Magpies slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United - extending their losing run to five games in the process - but, after tamely surrendering to the Red Devils in Cardiff, Souness' side finally displayed the fighting qualities demanded by the club's fans.

With eight senior players either injured or suspended, the Scot was forced to name a starting line-up that included six players who had each played less than a dozen league games for the club.

But, rather than rolling over, the likes of Darren Ambrose, James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia rolled up their sleeves to produce a performance full of passion and pride.

"Football mirrors life," said Souness, who hopes to have Kieron Dyer, Steven Taylor and Amdy Faye available for Wednesday night's Tyne-Tees derby with Middlesbrough.

"You find out about people when your backs are to the wall and I'm finding out about different people at this football club.

"You find out who you want with you when the going gets tough and it's been a difficult ten days for us.

"Some of the younger players have done extremely well in a place that's very difficult to play football.

"A lot of people have come out with a lot of pluses. I thought young N'Zogbia was excellent and you've obviously got to take your hat off to young (Peter) Ramage. This can be an intimidating place to play football, but I thought he handled things well."

Ambrose, in particular, was impressive and one of the shocks of the season looked to be on the cards when he fired Newcastle into a shock first-half lead.

But goals from Wayne Rooney and Wes Brown ensured Manchester United would claim all three points and, after watching Youssef Safri's wonder goal help Norwich earn a 2-1 win against his side last week, Souness was bemoaning his luck again after Rooney produced another masterpiece.

"I feel as though we have been unlucky again," he said. "We got our goal in the first half and, after that, I cannot really remember Shay Given having a save to make.

"Until Wayne Rooney's wonder strike, they did not hurt us. That is the second game in a row in which we have lost matches because of a contender for goal of the season."

Ironically, Rooney had done little before his 57th-minute volley flew past Given. The England international had been well shackled by Stephen Carr, playing in an unorthodox midfield role in front of the back four.

"I asked Stephen Carr to play where he did because we didn't have any other central midfielders to choose from," revealed Souness.

"I had a contingency plan. If Ryan Giggs had been running riot, I would have asked Stephen to go to right-back and I would have played Alan Shearer in midfield. That's how short of players we were."

Meanwhile, former manager Sir Bobby Robson has delivered a stinging criticism of Souness' attempts at remoulding the squad he inherited when he arrived on Tyneside in September.

Robson, who claimed Newcastle should have been challenging for a Champions League place this month, insisted that the group of players he left behind at the start of the season were as good as any he had managed during his five seasons at St James'.

"I am in as much shock as any Newcastle fan," said Robson, who also urged the Magpies not to enter the much-maligned Intertoto Cup this summer.

"Back in August, I thought it was the best squad we'd had in my five years at the club, and that included the one that finished third in the Premiership and reached the second stage of the Champions League.

"It had youth (Titus Bramble, Jermaine Jenas), experience (Alan Shearer, Shay Given), players coming to their peak (Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy) and three international signings in the summer (Nicky Butt, Patrick Kluivert and Steve Carr).

"Even now when I look at the playing staff, I think it's worthy of being in the top six, particularly when you consider several million pounds was spent in January.

"After all, the team had finished third, fourth and fifth in the previous three seasons.

"There seems to be a feeling that they will have a massive overhaul this summer. But personally, I feel the team needs adjustment and refining rather than tearing apart."

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