"Newcastle United are like a sieve in terms of being so easy to get at and play through," says former Magpies defender John Anderson.

Despite believing Matthias Jaissle's side didn't play "that badly" and showed "work rate and energy" in their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last time out, Anderson also thinks the "balance hasn't been there the past few games".

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, he said: "Having a lot of the ball doesn't actually mean you are controlling a game. We had a lot of the ball against Aston Villa, but every time they broke they looked dangerous.

"We committed so many bodies forward that one pass was taking three or four of our players out of the game and all of a sudden Aston Villa were onto our back four.

"It is all about getting that balance right and it just hasn't been for the past few games. We are like a sieve in terms of being so easy to get at and play through."

Anderson added: "One result can change a lot - all it needs is one good win and all of a sudden you're back on track - but Matthias Jaissle seems very set in his ways at this moment in time.

"The reality is the system he is playing hasn't worked in the past few games. It is OK wanting to play a certain way, but if you don't have the players to play in that way effectively then it is a problem."