Steve Bruce has warned his players he will not tolerate any player who puts their "flip flops" on early this summer.
The Magpies were hammered 5-0 against Manchester City and Bruce was far from happy with his side after a poor display.
With Newcastle now safe from relegation many fans suggested that United's mentality has now become more relaxed after notching 43 points.
Bruce said: "We’ve not got our flip flops on.
"We were down to the bare bones.
"But despite that I expect us to be better and I demand we are better for the remaining games.”
Bruce refused to blame the absence of stars like Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.
He went on: "We were down to the bones. It’s been difficult.
"When you’re missing seven or eight, you’re going to find it difficult.
"The manner of it was disappointing."
Bruce feels his side have more to offer than the evidence of a soaking wet night at the Etihad Stadium.
Bruce said: “When you come here you’ve got to be somewhere near your best.
"We knew we were up against it with some of the bodies we had missing but you still expect them to put up a bit more than we showed. It was too easy from the first minute to the last.”
