Rafael Benitez remained defiant after seeing struggling Newcastle dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Championship Nottingham Forest.
The Spaniard looked on as a side featuring 10 changes and including three men who have been told they can leave the club slumped to a 3-2 extra-time defeat at St James' Park, the first time they have gone out of the League cup in the second round since 1990.
It was the promoted Magpies' third defeat in as many games to date this season and did little to lift the pall hanging over Tyneside after yet another summer of unrest.