FABIAN SCHAR admits Newcastle United’s performance in their 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace was “unacceptable”, but the Swiss centre-half is confident he and his team-mates will produce a positive reaction at the weekend to get their European push back on track.

The Magpies produced their poorest performance of the calendar year as they were beaten at Selhurst Park, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half brace ending their six-game unbeaten run.

With Manchester United beating Sheffield United at Old Trafford, Newcastle’s defeat has left them in seventh position, three points adrift of the top six, two points clear of eighth-placed West Ham and three ahead of ninth-placed Chelsea, albeit having played a game more than the Blues.

A top-seven finish is likely to be good enough to secure European football of some description next season, and with basement boys Sheffield United visiting St James’ Park on Saturday, the Magpies remain well-placed.

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However, for all that the Blades are on the brink of being relegated, Schar accepts there will have to be a marked improvement on last night’s performance when Newcastle return to action at the weekend.

“From start to finish, it was not a good game,” he said. “The first 25 minutes especially was not good. It felt like they were on top, and it’s difficult when you’re not on your best levels as a team. It’s difficult in the Premier League. It’s not acceptable, the way we played. As a team, we have to learn from it and be much better on Saturday.

“We know what is possible this season, and obviously we want to achieve certain things. We know we have to do better, but as a club, as Newcastle United, we still have a chance (for Europe). There is disappointment now, but we have to learn and then step up tomorrow and do better.”

Schar admitted Newcastle were second-best for long periods against Palace, but felt things might have been different had the Magpies been awarded a penalty when Sean Longstaff appeared to be tugged back by Will Hughes with the score at 1-0. Not, however, that he felt his side deserved anything come the final whistle.

“Even their players thought it was a penalty,” said Schar, in an interview with NUFC TV. “For me, what I saw was pretty clear, and it would have been a big moment in the game, it was 1-0.

“But I’m conscious not to blame what happened on that, overall it was not good enough. That could have changed the game, but the rest of the game was not the level we want to be.”