A DESPONDENT Shay Given last night admitted that Newcastle's players deserved the criticism that was thrown their way in the wake of Sunday's 2-2 draw at Blackburn.

The Magpies twice took the lead at Ewood Park but, on both occasions, a catalogue of defensive errors enabled their opponents to draw level.

Three Newcastle defenders marked one man as Paul Dickov was left all alone in the first half, while three Blackburn attackers were left unmarked after Given parried Barry Ferguson's shot after the break.

Boss Graeme Souness branded his defenders "dopes" after the game, but it wasn't just the back four who under-performed on Boxing Day.

Patrick Kluivert was utterly ineffectual in attack, while James Milner's crossing let him down badly on the right of midfield.

With Arsenal visiting St James' Park tomorrow, Tyneside is experiencing a bleak midwinter but, after watching his side let another two points slip away, Given has no complaints about the barrage of criticism being levelled at him and his team-mates.

"We deserve all the stick we are getting," admitted the Republic of Ireland international, who has kept just two Premiership clean sheets all season. "The press and the fans aren't happy and they have every right not to be.

"We have not being doing well enough this season or towards the end of the last campaign.

"When you are doing well you take the credit. We are doing badly now and we need broad shoulders. You only need to look at the league table to realise we are not doing the business right now.

"It is the players who have to improve. I hate to just pick on the defence because you can have the four best defenders in the world, but if the team is not working well as a unit then you struggle."

Given might not want to focus his attention on United's defence but, given the regularity with which the Magpies are shipping goals, it would be surprising if the club's forthcoming opponents weren't.

Andy Todd's second-half strike on Sunday was the 37th Premiership goal Newcastle have conceded this season - a damning indictment of their current problems considering they only let in 40 in the whole of last term.

"We are leaking too many goals," said Given. "We gave away two at Blackburn - both from set-pieces which is so disappointing.

"For the first one, the lads will be asking themselves how he has got so much time in the box. I could see what was going to happen and I tried to close the angle, but we turned our backs on the play and he has just rolled it in.

"For the second goal, I don't know how, but we have done the same again. It was obvious what was going to happen. They had a shot and there was no-one covering when the ball came back off me.

"It is just nave defending from our point of view and we are making things so hard for ourselves.

"I don't know what's going wrong. I don't think we are as aware as we should be when there is danger approaching. We are not realising how dangerous set-pieces are and we are not as switched on as we could be."

After winning just one of his last nine league games, much of the flak has been flying in the direction of Souness.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd insists he remains fully supportive of his manager but, with the transfer window about to open next weekend, Souness' Newcastle future could hinge on how quickly his new signings bed into the side.

"Some of the criticism the manager has got has been harsh," said Given.

"Because it's not his team. But the results have not gone well so I suppose he expects that.

"Hopefully we can get a few new players in January and then we will start to climb the league. Perhaps that's what we need. A bit of a fresh start for a few players might do us the world of good."

With United's defensive crisis worsening, Souness is lining up a surprise bid for former Newcastle centre-half Sylvain Distin.

The Frenchman spent the 2001-02 season at St James' Park on loan from Paris St Germain but, after United agreed a £3.8m fee for his services the following summer, the two parties were unable to agree personal terms.

Distin subsequently made a £4m move to Manchester City and has proved the lynchpin of Kevin Keegan's defence ever since.

Souness has watched Distin and his central defensive partner Richard Dunne in action twice this season, and is poised to test the water with a £2.5m bid for the former.

Meanwhile, Rangers assistant manager Andy Watson has maintained that the club do need to sell Jean-Alain Boumsong next month.

The Scottish club have already rejected Newcastle's £7.5m bid for his services and, with the Magpies ready to up that offer next week, the Gers official has insisted Boumsong does not have to be sold to balance the books.

"Jean-Alain is a Rangers player," said Watson. "And the view for us is that we are trying to keep our best players but, if the offer goes to a certain level of money, then the club might not refuse it.

"But as it stands right now - it's still the status quo. All we can ask of Jean-Alain is he comes into work and applies himself 100 per cent."

l Both Patrick Kluivert and Shola Ameobi face late fitness tests ahead of tomorrow's Premiership clash with Arsenal.

Kluivert was substituted at half-time at Blackburn after complaining of tightness in his hamstring, while Ameobi injured his shoulder in the closing stages of the game.

Alan Shearer (thigh), Stephen Carr (knee), Ronny Johnsen (hamstring) and Nicky Butt (hamstring) are all definitely out, but Lee Bowyer is available again after suspension.