EVERY carefully chosen word that Niall Quinn proffered was fuelled by hurt; each statement designed to shame his Sunderland teammates into action.

There was a lack of "bottle", Quinn admitted, a failure to show the indefatigable spirit that has been synonymous with Peter Reid's Sunderland for more than seven years.

More than that, though, Quinn accused his colleagues of the most heinous of crimes: that of not trying their best.

Quinn may have crossed the great divide in the summer by becoming part of Reid's coaching team, but he remains the senior pro in the dressing room.

As such, he recognised his brutal assessment of his team might not make him Mr Popular among his peers, but he did not care one jot.

There were no names, but the guilty knew who they were.

Matthew Piper did his damnedest to tilt the game in Sunderland's favour, but he was one of precious few in red and white whose reputation was not tarnished on Saturday.

One comment stood out like Quinn's second-half display, when the Irishman defied his aching, ageing limbs and his teammates' collective incompetence to put up a fight against Newcastle's total dominance.

"When you lose a Sunderland v Newcastle derby it's a disaster, but to come off knowing every player didn't give their all for Peter is scandalous," he said.

The cynic might also observe that it was just as disgusting that the fans had been let down, but that is a moot point.

Besides, Quinn was one of the few Sunderland players who acknowledged their supporters' presence at St James' Park at the final whistle.

It was the lack of passion that so alarmed Reid and Quinn, and their fans - be they behind their beleaguered boss or calling for him to go.

They were playing for their manager's future - and they let him down disgracefully.

Quinn, 35, said: "A lot of people owe the majority of their careers to Peter and he's done nothing but defend us over the last year or two when he might have spoken out.

"The incredible thing is that the players have let him down, even though a lot of people are here because of Peter.

"We didn't get going against Newcastle, and you can't do that to someone like Peter Reid after what he's done for everyone in that dressing room.

"Despite the fact that they haven't played well in the past, he's stood by his team for so long. In return, as a member of the backroom staff, all we ask for is a bit of bottle.

"You can say nice things in the papers and give messages to the fans, but ultimately Sunderland FC are desperate for a bit of character and a bit of bottle on the pitch.

"It's payback time for what Peter Reid has done for this club and it will do no harm to the players if they read how poor they've been all week.

"This is the acid test for them. They have to motivate themselves to help Peter Reid by giving him a performance full of bottle.

"Everybody's gutted but there's a difference between being gutted and having the bottle to put things right. There's some soul-searching to be done to bridge the two.

"I'd settle for every person to leave the stadium after the Aston Villa game next week knowing that the lads gave everything. We haven't been able to say that recently.

"If all the players can come out and say they've done it for Peter because they've played above themselves, we've got a chance. We've got a stepping stone then.

"The players have got a week to sort out in their own heads whether they want that or not.

"The only way Peter is going to cheer up is if there's a drastic change in the desire levels to help him and the football club.

"We've always had that desire. It's our blood and oxygen, and Sunderland FC and the people expect it. Any successful Sunderland team over the years has had it.

"It's a desire and a willingness to die for the cause and your manager.

"Peter had that for so long and now it's slipped."

Reid has found himself in an unenviable situation; one where every match is being billed as the biggest of his Sunderland reign.

The build-up to the Villa game promises to be tense.

The occasion will be even more fraught.

Sunderland have five days, starting today, to rouse themselves.

Having spent close to ten years with Reid, after also playing for him at Manchester City, Quinn dearly hopes his manager's outspoken attack has the desired effect.

He said: "There's only a certain group of people who can put things right for Peter. They know who they are and they'll be reading about it this week.

"We let ourselves down at Middlesbrough, and Peter stuck up for the players and said we'd get it right against Fulham on Saturday. But as soon as the first goal went in, the bottle went again.

"Nobody in that dressing room will be surprised by those comments. They all know that's the case. This dressing room knows it has to put things right, simple as that."

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