Steve McClaren sacked: Dismissed Newcastle manager's final interview

The Magpies hierarchy moved to sack the former England manager with the club in the Premier League relegation zone

Steve McClaren is subjected the supporters' fury during Newcastle defeat by Bournemouth (Getty)

Steve McClaren said there was “no flowering it up” in his final interview as Newcastle head coach as the North East club fell to a 3-1 defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Magpies hierarchy moved to sack the former England manager with the club submerged in the Premier League relegation zone by one point after three consecutive defeats.

Rafael Benítez, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager, is expected to replace McClaren until the end of the season but no official announcement has been made in that regard.

Speaking after the defeat on Saturday, McClaren said: “There is no flowering it up. Players need to step up and not enough are doing that. At the moment I can't see any positives, but we need to stick together and fight.”

Asked if it was Newcastle's worst display at St James’ Park under his management, the 54-year-old added: “Without a shadow of a doubt, there was an edginess. We could see that in our players.

“We played too deep and lost our shape. Some wanted to press as they are encouraged to do by the crowd but the defence did not go with them and it left gaps at the back.

“Normally we are a good attacking team and good on the ball but we were poor on the ball. It is not the level we have produced at home in the last six or seven games. The occasion and inexperience got to a few.”