Robson: "Today we didn't deserve to get anything out of the game."

BRYAN Robson claimed he would have substituted his entire starting XI if it had been possible following a poor first-half showing at St James' Park.

And the Baggies boss admitted the disappointing 3-0 reverse by an injury-hit Newcastle side has all-but relegated his side.

Nolberto Solano's opener and a Shola Ameobi double sentenced the visitors to their 11th away league defeat - and secured Newcastle's fifth successive win in their late charge for a UEFA Cup berth.

The result leaves the 19th-placed Baggies' Barclays Premiership survival hopes hanging by a thread after slipping six points adrift of safety with only two games remaining.

A straight-talking Robson said: "I've been praising the lads for the way we've been playing of late.

"I think the performances have been good and we've been unfortunate not to pick up more points.

"But I can't say that today.

"We didn't deserve to get anything out of the game.

"We were very poor in the first-half.

"We didn't compete, show any energy levels or pass the ball well.

"It was a really poor performance in the first half.

"If I could have used 11 substitutes, I would have put them all on."

The rules restricted Robson to three changes at the break, as he replaced skipper Kevin Campbell, Diomansy Kamara and Steve Watson with Kanu, Nathan Ellington and Junichi Inamoto.

Robson added: "That was no disrespect to the three lads I took off because the whole team was poor."

Although the substitutions did spark a second-half improvement, Toon keeper Shay Given continued to enjoy a quiet afternoon as Albion's winless run stretched to 11 games.

It left Robson questioning whether his side's first-half no-show was caused by a hangover from Monday's disappointing goalless draw with Bolton, when they missed the chance to move within a point of safety.

"I told the players before the game it was good to see Newcastle had a lot of good players out," reflected Robson.

"But I told them not to underestimate them because they were on a good run and their confidence was high.

"Newcastle came out really well and hit the ball to Ameobi, who had a really good game.

"We needed to be really up for it and compete."

Robson added: "Whether the performance was an after-effect from us not beating Bolton - because the lads knew how important it was to win that game - I'm not sure.

"But they definitely showed disappointment and no energy compared to what they have been showing.

"At least in the second half, after I made the substitutions, they played for pride and started to play a bit of football.

"But that's all I can take out of the game."

Fourth-bottom Portsmouth's late winner against Sunderland means Harry Redknapp's side need only a point from their final two games against Wigan and Liverpool to send Albion down.

A Blues win in either of their last two fixtures - against Newcastle and Bolton - would also relegate the Baggies.

Albion must win their final two games - at home to West Ham on Monday week and away to Everton on the final day of the season - to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.

A realistic Robson admitted: "The way the other results have gone, that more or less puts us down.

"But it's still mathematically possible for us to stay up so as far as I'm concerned, we'll prepare well for the West Ham game and hope the other results go well for us.