Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that his side have not been good enough in the second half of the Premier League this season.
At the beginning of 2014, the Magpies were only four points off a Champions League position, but they have lost 12 of their 17 league games since January and have slipped to ninth in the table.
Their campaign has been further clouded by Pardew's sending-off for a headbutt on David Meyler during a 4-1 victory over Hull City in March, which led to a seven-game ban for the manager.
"It's a contrasting season. The first half, I actually felt we played not far from our top level for most of that," Pardew is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "But in the second half we haven't been good enough, I haven't been good enough and the results have followed.
"I've obviously let myself down on the touchline, for sure. The Hull incident was obviously a turning point I definitely didn't want to have. I think that affected me and the team.
"I will make sure that never happens again. It stands out, if I'm honest, from anything else."
Newcastle face Liverpool at Anfield in their final game of the season on Sunday.
Alex Meyers
