Eddie Howe has been warned he could lose his job at Newcastle United if he repeats the comments made in the aftermath of the defeat to Cambridge United.
That is the view of former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore, who labelled it a 'disgraceful' performance which suggests there could be 'trouble around the corner'.
The Magpies crashed out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage after being humbled on home soil by their League One opponents.
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Joe Ironside scored the only goal of the tie to earn Cambridge a fourth-round tie against Championship outfit Luton Town.
Howe believes the Magpies suffered without a focal point in attack, with Callum Wilson ruled out for eight weeks and Dwight Gayle unavailable for selection.
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The Newcastle head coach said: "I don’t think there was anything wrong with our attitude, we just couldn’t deliver the quality to score.
"We did have some good moments but we lacked that killer instinct that every team needs."
Collymore has questioned the 'tone' of Howe's post-match comments, insisting Newcastle should 'never' be losing a home game against Cambridge.
Writing in his Mirror column, the pundit said: "Eddie Howe's tone and comments after Newcastle’s defeat by Cambridge United on Saturday would have worried me if I was a Toon fan.
"He was very relaxed in saying he thought his side used the ball well and only really let themselves down in the final third.
"You what, Eddie? It’s Cambridge.
"I know you’ve come from Bournemouth, probably an equal-size club with Cambridge in the grand scheme of things, but if you say things like that two or three times at Newcastle then you’re soon going to find yourself out on your backside.
"Newcastle United should never — never — as a Premier Club, whether they are 20 points clear at the top or off the bottom, be losing a home game to Cambridge.
"It was a disgraceful performance and if that kind of display and that kind of reaction keeps happening there will be trouble round the corner."
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