Preston North End boss Darren Ferguson told the press that the final score of 3-0 was harsh on his team.
"It's never a 3-0. I can't believe it's ended 3-0 to be honest," the Gaffer said after the match.
"They've scored a really freaky goal for the first one, pure luck. The lad went to cross it and it's gone in the back of the net. I thought our response was magnificent though. I thought we were the better team in the first half, we had the better chances.
"Second half they came at us, but I was pleased with our performance. 3-0 flatters Newcastle massively, because we've come here and given them a game. Once or twice we picked it up, but in the last third we don't seem to be getting the break just at the moment. If I get that sort of performance again, we'll be fine."
North End had chances to get back into the game at 1-0 but after half-time a goal from Kevin Nolan all but ended Preston's hopes.
"We didn't really want half-time to come. Parky had a chance when we were on top, the keeper's made a good save. Billy Jones nearly picked someone out for that. But on a couple of occasions we just picked the wrong pass in the last third. I was pleased overall, but it was never a 3-0 scoreline. It looks bad because it was 3-0, but it was never that. Our performance was good.
"A couple of occasions we picked the worng man, saying that we did create chances, we had some really good performances in the team and I'm disappointed with another three goals going in. But it was not a true reflection of the perfromance."
Ferguson once again reserved praise for striker Jon Parkin who proved to be a real handul for the Newcastle defence: "Parky is playing out of his skin. He was a real handful, they couldn't cope with him first half. He went close with a volley just on half-time. He probably caught it too well. If he scuffed it it might have gone in!
"I thought there were some really good performances. Tom Williams at the back and Coutts were outstanding. But I've just said to them, if we get that level of performance, we'll win games. It's a hard place to come, but I think Newcastle know they've been in a game today.
"Ross can create things, he's one of our better creative players and I thought he did well."
Ferguson also explained that the early opener was a crucial blow as he had spoken before the game about the importance of keeping the crowd quiet. He said: "The first goal we spoke about at length how we need to start the game, because the punters get restless up here.
The pleasing thing for me is that we didn't put our heads down and should have been level at half-time, but we spoke about Nolan passing it and running in behind, and he did for the goal, so we'll have to have a look at that. That was disappointing. But we kept going, and I was generally quite pleased with us."
- The manager explained after the match that Chris Brown missed the game after picking up a viral infection.
