Eddie Howe has promised an inquest after Newcastle were hammered 4-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts were in cruise control throughout the match, with Omar Marmoush netting a sublime hat-trick and James McAtee also on target.
While it was a good day for City, it was a dreadful day for Newcastle.
They were outplayed and the result will set alarm bells ringing, especially with the Toon due to face Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup next month.
Newcastle news: Eddie Howe has promised an inquest after his side were hammered 4-0 by Manchester City on Saturday
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Howe, speaking to the BBC, has admitted it was a 'tough day at the office'.
And he's also promised that he and his coaching staff will analyse the match to find out where things went so badly wrong.
"It was a tough day at the office - they played well, we didn't," he admitted.
"The goals were poor moments, we will have to analyse them and work out what we could do better.
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"From the off we were lacking in duels, the physical side. Man City are so good in the build-up, to disrupt that you have to be exceptional physically and we weren't.
"We can't look for excuses, there are a load of reasons we could look at, but the players should have been fresh and ready to perform, they didn't.
"We've got some tough games, the fixture list will test us. We have to dust ourselves off for next week."
In a separate interview with Premier League Productions, the Newcastle boss added: "It was a tough game, they are still the toughest team to play against. We were not at our best today.
"Goals change games, and the goal we concede early was a tough one for us.
"All the goals we conceded today we will look back on with frustration. It becomes difficult when you chase the game today, really tough.
"They ask so many questions of you, put you under pressure. They did not have a bundle of chances but they did what they needed to do.
"It's about growing for the next games and learning from today. When you come back into these arenas, fare better, that's the challenge."
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Newcastle news: Omar Marmoush netted a sublime hat-trick as Man City won 4-0 on Saturday
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While it was a dreadful day for Newcastle, it was a positive one for City.
And Pep Guardiola was delighted with his side's performance as they boosted their hopes of securing Champions League football for next season.
"The way we played, we remembered what we were and what we have not been this season," he said.
"We always try, but sometimes we cannot do it. I am really pleased with the pace and intensity we had up front, Nico [Gonzalez] and [Abdukodir] Khusanov were extraordinary.
Newcastle news: Eddie Howe was frustrated after his side were battered by Man City on Saturday
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"We need to win these games to qualify for the Champions League. We have to make this kind of performance to send our people home happy.
"[Omar] Marmoush did really well in Germany, a player with his quality and pace, I was pleased with the way he scored.
"Against Leyton Orient he missed chances, but today in the final third he was really good."
