Blues pretty well bossed the game but ultimately left St James' Park with nothing after the home side scored 12 minutes from time with their first real shot on target, and one which keeper Maik Taylor should surely have done better with.
"I thought the players were magnificent," the Blues boss said after the 1-0 defeat.
"Not many teams will come to St James' Park and give a better performance than that. Newcastle haven't really had a shot apart from the one that went in.
"The goal was very disappointing. At first I thought Emre's shot was deflected but it didn't take a deflection.
"It was in the middle of the goal and Maik should have done better with it. It was a mistake and he knows that.
"Everyone will have gone from the ground and thought the best team's lost."