DAVID Elleray's controversial interpretation of the "six-second" rule might have been a major turning point in the game but Sam Allardyce was looking at the bigger picture when he highlighted his own team's shortcomings at St James' Park.

The Reebok boss protested, good and proper, about the awarding of the free kick against Jussi Jaaskelainen which led to Alan Shearer equalising just four minutes after Ricardo Gardner had given Wanderers a shock 19th minute lead.

But when the dust had settled, he insisted his players must get there defensive act together quickly or suffer the consequences.

"However well we've played, we've conceded three goals," Allardyce acknowledged after the 3-2 defeat, "and we can't do that.

"We have to get back, as a unit, to making sure we get a clean sheet, first and foremost. That's the only way we get out of the position we are in - by coming off the field having not conceded and looking at a quality strike or a bit of luck to get us a goal at the other end to nick us the three points.

"At this stage performances don't come into it. It's about getting points on the board."

Allardyce, who has now seen his team go 12 Premiership games without a win, believes the longer Wanderers go without earning or even scraping a win, the harder it will be to maintain the team spirit, which has been one of their strongest suits.

"We can't seem to play poorly and dig something out which we don't deserve and we can't play well and get a result or a victory," he lamented after this latest setback.

"The longer it goes on, the more the players lose confidence and belief and the more difficult it gets. That is my particular problem at the moment - making sure we reinforce the lads with what we know they do best, continuing to be mentally strong and believe in themselves going into the crucial next six games against teams in and around us.

"We must ensure we perform as well as we did (at Newcastle) and hopefully we can turn those performances into the victories we need."

Allardyce was especially unhappy with his defenders at Newcastle after getting his tactical game almost spot on - despite injuries ruling out the likes of Per Frandsen, Paul Warhurst, Colin Hendry and Bruno N'Gotty, who failed a fitness test on his ankle injury.

"We played a defensive-minded game," he said. "We tried to play how we've played most of the season, particularly away from home, and which has brought us most success. It did again on Saturday in terms of our attacking, where we sucked the opposition in and created some good counter-attacking movements from which we could have scored more than two goals.

"But it's about not switching off. Irrespective of whether David (Elleray) is wrong or right, we got ourselves the lead for the second time and didn't protect it until at least half time.

"They are crucial things that change the game either for you or against you.

"I just hope that sooner or later a bit of good fortune comes our way and gives us all a boost."