Steve McClaren: It's not rocket science to see where problem is, but I'm not worried

McClaren’s side were dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford on Saturday.

And the defeat – the club’s fourth successive 1-0 loss – means relegation-threatened Newcastle have gone 412 minutes without a goal.

The club, which takes on Manchester United at St James’s Park tomorrow night in the Premier League, is looking to sign at least one striker in this month’s transfer window.

Troy Deeney took the one clear chance that fell to Quique Flores’ side at Vicarage Road.

Asked if United lacked a finisher like Deeney or Odion Ighalo, Watford’s top scorer, under-pressure McClaren said: “It’s not rocket science.

“You need to defend, keep clean sheets and have players who can score you goals.”

McClaren, however, has suggested that is still isn’t “worried”.

“At the moment we are defending all right, although we need to win games 2-1 because we keep getting punished for our mistakes,” said McClaren, the club’s head coach.

“But listen, if the effort, the football, the discipline weren’t there, and we weren’t creating chances, I’d be worried.”

Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, signed last summer, missed chances in each half, while forward Ayoze Perez put another opportunity wide of Heurelho Gomes’ goal.

While frustrated that his team, yet again, hadn’t taken its chances, McClaren felt his players gave him everything.

“There is a lot going on in the middle, but it all depends on what happens at each end,” said McClaren, who switched to a 3-5-2 formation.

“You have got to stick the ball in the back of the net and you have to defend the other side.

“Now we’ve been doing that but not scoring. All you ask for is all that the players have given.

“We had a new formation, we controlled the game against a top team with a strong home record and we really only gave them one opportunity.

“We’ve had 25 crosses, numerous chances and Gomes has made saves. We’re not far away, but when you look at it we are.”