Steve McClaren was pleased with Newcastle's effort in the 1-0 defeat at Stoke Steve McClaren was pleased with Newcastle's effort in the 1-0 defeat at Stoke

Steve McClaren insists he is still the man to save Newcastle from relegation despite their latest Premier League defeat.

The Magpies were beaten for the seventh consecutive time away from home on Wednesday, going down 1-0 to Stoke City.

They were nine minutes away from claiming a point that would have moved them out of the bottom three before Xherdan Shaqiri fired in a 25-yard winner for the Potters.

But McClaren was pleased with their attitude as they returned to action following an 18-day break since their 5-1 defeat to Chelsea, seeing enough to convince him they can avoid the drop.

When asked if his job was safe after the game, McClaren replied: "I don't see any reason why not?

"We have been in this position all season for a reason and we have to continue that with 11 games to go, but you saw tonight the reaction of the players after the last outing 18 days ago, it has been good.

"This game is cruel and it's been cruel to us again. We dust ourselves down and we go again on Saturday.

McClaren endured a frustrating night at the Britannia Stadium

"We have got 11 games and a certain amount of wins we need. We don't quite know the target, but we have got the talent to do that and, for sure, the attitude tonight will get them.

"We have been in this position all season. We are there for a reason, we are going to fight our way out of it and tonight we started to do that."