Burn challenges Magpies to step up to the plate

DAN Burn admits that Newcastle United stars need to start "earning their money" during the bread and butter games this season.

- By LEE RYDER

The Magpies have been poor away from home and the white flag came out at West Ham as the London side chalked up a 3-1 win.

But now Newcastle must lift themselves for the encounter with Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

And Burn pulled no punches when asked his thoughts on Eddie Howe's post-game comments in which he said he could no longer defend players for such a limp defeat.

Burn, speaking ahead of the clash with Athletic Bilbao, said: "I agree (couldn't defend it). Normally, when you are having a bad game and one or two players are having a bad game, you can carry that. But pretty much the full team had an off day.

"It is frustrating, and we let ourselves down. We really wanted to make amends for the away form this season and push on, but that didn't happen.

"It's tough we haven't won in nine away games. It's something I know the manager will be working on to understand why we have not been performing.