CHELSEA boss Mauricio Pochettino was left fuming by his side's "soft" display at St James' Park - and said they made it "easy" for Newcastle United.

Pochettino, who was forced to watch from the stands as he served a touchline ban, said he was "angry and disappointed" by Chelsea's second half display, as Newcastle powered to an emphatic victory with three goals after the break.

To add to Pochettino's fury, Reece James was sent off in the second half.

On another defensive day to forget for Chelsea - who conceded four for the second successive game - Thiago Silva made an error to gift Newcastle their third goal. Pochettino, though, accepts mistakes. What he couldn't accept was how passive and meek Chelsea were.

"That is a mistake, I am not talking about mistakes," Pochettino said of the Thiago error.

"I am talking more about energy, we were not prepared in the best way to compete today. That is my concern. We thought we were ready to compete today but we didn't in the way the competition demanded.

"Even if Newcastle wasn't great, it was an easy win. It was so easy the way that we concede, the way we were soft in every single challenge, we did not show we were playing for something important.

"That is why it made me angry and disappointed. Even if we talk about being a young team, we need to learn. These type of games make me very, very, very, very, very angry because it is about showing more personality and character. Okay we are young but we can not miss this type of opportunity to show our best.

"We need to be more solid in this area, mental of course and attitude, it is not attitude, it is about showing more strength in our mental game and be ready to compete."

Asked for his verdict on James' second half red card - by which time Chelsea were already 3-1 down, Pochettino said: "Disappointed. Look, this type of thing happens in football and we need to accept it, but of course I'm disappointed."

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When Pochettino said Newcastle "weren't great", rather than a dig at the hosts, it was aimed at his side and the fact the Magpies - with all their injuries - didn't have to be anywhere near their best and were still comfortable victors.

Howe agreed. He too felt Newcastle were short of their highest standards - understandable given the number of absentees - but he was immensely proud of his players for their efforts.

Howe said: "We did what we needed to do to win the game. That's all we can do, play the match that's in front of us. The first game after an international break is always difficult."