Exclusive: Chris Waddle outlines his thoughts on Matthias Jaissle and Newcastles mixed start to the season

Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle 'needs a Plan B' but needs to be 'given time' to implement his vision on Tyneside after a a damaging week.

That is the verdict of former Magpies winger Chris Waddle, who believes United need to pick up some results, regardless of performances, to flip the mood surrounding the club.

Jaissle has been picking up the pieces after suffering back-to-back defeats last week for the first time as Newcastle United boss. United were thrashed 4-1 at newly promoted Coventry City before picking up a first home defeat of the campaign against Aston Villa.

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It meant Newcastle started the weekend in the bottom half of the table and with a cloud of negativity amid fierce criticism of Jaissle's system, the ease at which teams have been able to play through them and their worrying underlying defensive numbers.

And with that in mind, Waddle believes there needs to be a recalibration of expectations this term, with a bottom half finish more likely than qualifying for European football.

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"He needs a Plan B," Waddle told Chronicle Live, on behalf of NetBet casino UK. "He is obviously asking his team to play with a high intensity, pressing the opposition and playing on the front foot, but you can’t do that for the whole game.

"We’ve seen it a few times where they’ve come flying out in the first half, but then after 20 or 25 minutes they look tired, they go flat and there doesn’t seem to be another style of play for them to turn to.

"It’s going to come down to results, not performances. You can play well, but if you lose then people will still criticise you. From what I’ve seen so far they’re not a bad side, they’re just lacking experience.

"He has maintained the front-footed style of football, which is obviously what the fans want, rather than reverting to playing more defensive and trying to nick goals on the counter. The fans prefer that style, but I don’t necessarily think it’s going to produce positive results.

"They have to give him time. He’s working with a lot of young players and they will take time to come good. The squad is still a good one, but I think they’ll be competing in the bottom half rather than the top half this season."

Newcastle will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday when they take on struggling Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, before making the trip to face Everton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday.