Graeme Souness says he 'wouldn't be confident about Newcastle winning another game' this season after the 'attitude' they displayed against Brighton at the weekend.

Leandro Trossard, Danny Welbeck and Neal Maupay were on target for the Seagulls as they crushed Steve Bruce's men in the relegation six-pointer.

Newcastle could only muster three shots (one on target) over the course of the 90 minutes (via BBC Sport). They finished the game with an xG of just 0.09 (via XG Philosophy).

Newcastle's survival prospects assessed

Fulham's defeat at home to Leeds on Friday night means that Newcastle stay two points above the bottom three with a game in hand, but they are winless in their last six matches and their run-in includes meetings with Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Leicester and Manchester City.

Speaking on Sky Sports Premier League [via Football Daily], Souness - who managed Newcastle between 2004 and 2006 -  offered a damning verdict, saying:

"I look at that group of players and I wouldn't be confident about them winning another game, if that's their attitude tonight. They were going through the motions.

"They don't have any easy games left, the way they're playing and the appetite they're showing. It's worrying for them and Steve Bruce knows that.

"You can lose one way and you can lose by not having a go and I think tonight, they went down without a fight, for me."

Steve Bruce hangs on

Even though he questioned the players' desire, Souness did not look to shield Steve Bruce from criticism either.

He said that "the buck stops with the manager" and warned that Mike Ashley may be tempted to make a change in the dugout as he sweats over the value of his "asset".

As it stands, Bruce's job is said to be safe (via Sky Sports). It was reported earlier in the campaign that Ashley would only pull the trigger if Newcastle were to slip into the relegation zone at any stage (via Chronicle Live).

Transfer Tavern verdict

More often than not, a performance like the one Newcastle produced at the Amex Stadium would be the last straw. It was a far cry from 'playing for the manager'.

Ashley's preoccupation with the table as opposed to the team's trajectory is very worrying for the club's supporters. In the past, he has brought in Alan Shearer and Rafa Benitez for the final stretch of the season and it has proven too little, too late.

You fear that, with the international break preceding a nine-game run-in, Newcastle may be missing their last chance to make an impactful change.

In other news, Newcastle are said to be in pole position to sign this player.