By Matthew Jones
September 23 2002

Sir Bobby Robson has praised his local rival's manager Peter Reid after his outspoken criticism of his players following Saturdays derby which Newcastle won 2-0. Sir Bobby Robson has praised his local rival's manager Peter Reid after his outspoken criticism of his players following Saturdays derby which Newcastle won 2-0.

The Sunderland boss blamed his sorry and disheartened squad after seeing them limp to a 2-0 loss during the big Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park - the game he described as the most important game of the season.

The under-fire manager has consistently backed his squad throughout the past 18 months but, as the pressure mounts on his position at The Stadium of Light, he could not hold his tongue.

Although Bobby Robson has given his full backing to his Sunderland counterpart's outburst, the Magpies chief says that any condemnation of players is the last resort.

He said: "When you've tried everything else it is right to publicly criticise your players, but it's the last resort. It is a very tough life after a derby defeat. Everybody will be looking at you because you're the man at the top and that's the person who falls. Peter Reid is a good manager and he is strong with his players, but he is also responsible for those players. He has some tough choices ahead and he has got to pick up some points from somewhere," he added.

"You can work with the players in the build-up but when it comes to kick-off it is down to them. I always tell my players it is up to them how they play, not me but you can't keep saying the same thing to the same players week after week if they are not responding."