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Lee Charnley, the man partly responsible for Newcastle United’s signings, wore a bemused look at the end of yesterday’s game.

It was if the club secretary, the man who runs things on a daily basis, had no clue as to why his team were lucky to get zero in a 3-0 defeat by their most bitter rivals .

But surely this is an easy one to figure out.

Any Premier League side who has few young players coming through and goes two transfers windows without signing a permanent player, and therefore not spending any money, is asking for trouble.

And trouble called in at St James’ Park yesterday with a Big T dressed in red and white, or actually yellow in his case.

Running on to the park is idiotic, but you can understand the fans’ frustration. It is hard to believe that in many ways this is actually, sort of, a good season.

But this is Newcastle United. Whenever things start to go well, it’s as if they automatically regress into chaos.

Selling Yohan Cabaye to PSG is understandable. Not even really trying to get in a replacement, or at least having one lined up, is unforgivable.

Last summer, one other striker and a midfielder should have been bought in.

But the trio of Mike Ashley, Joe Kinnear and Charnley thought the squad didn’t need that, and a mostly good season seemed to back up that decision – certainly in their eyes.

Then Loic Remy gets himself suspended, leaving Alan Pardew with Shola Ameobi , who hasn’t scored a league goal in over a year, Papiss Cisse , who the club want rid of, and new guy Luuk De Jong , who has had the grand total of one day’s training with his new team-mates.

This is the reason why Newcastle lost yesterday. They were always only a couple of absentees away from struggling.

Newcastle’s season is now officially over. It is February 2.

I will defend Alan Pardew to a point. He doesn’t have much of a say in who stays or goes. So you can’t blame him for everything. His toeing of the party line is also understandable, although his first interview after he gets sacked is going to be interesting.

And there are more than a few Newcastle supporters who would welcome a change of manager now. Not in the summer, but now.

That’s three years Pardew has had. There has been more good than bad.

But one derby win out of seven is awful. His record in the cup is deplorable. Comments such as “that win was for Mike” after the win against Chelsea don’t do him any favours in the eyes of the Toon Army.

While feelings are always raw after a derby defeat, it’s hard to escape the feeling that Pardew is under real pressure. In his defence, the biggest problem is the men at the top and what they think is good enough for the football club.

But the manager himself needs to take stock. I mean – what exactly was yesterday’s grand plan? Punt the ball to Shola and hope something happens. Or give it to Hatem Ben Arfa and hope he does something.

And before we go on, Ben Arfa is in danger of throwing away what should be a wonderful career. He tried a run early on, it came to nothing, and it was almost as if he decided there and then not to bother any more.

Steven Taylor is another who is surely fighting to save his Newcastle career.

Running up to the fans and pumping your fist before a game might get something of a cheer, but they would much prefer him to win headers and not allow Jack Colback a clear shot on his left foot.

Not good enough. Again.

Key links you need for a timeline of events at yesterday's Tyne-Wear derby:

Fans take to social media to react to Newcastle's 3-0 derby defeat

Police make just 11 arrests following Newcastle's 3-0 derby defeat

Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 3: Final whistle match report, stats and pictures

Alan Pardew refused to answer questions on Yohan Cabaye sale at post-derby press conference

Alan Pardew: We must take stock after Sunderland defeat

Angry scenes as so-called football fans square up to police after the Tyne-Wear derby

Alan Pardew has Newcastle United season ticket thrown his way after Tyne-Wear derby defeat

Football fans arrive at St James' Park for NUFC v SAFC derby