Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admitted the absence of Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini cost his side dearly as the Magpies went down 4-2 to Norwich in the Barclays Premier League at Carrow Road.
Pardew started with James Perch and Danny Simpson at centre-back, but the inexperienced duo failed to handle Norwich's attacks, and in particular the physical threat of Steve Morison and Grant Holt.
"It's fairly obvious we missed them," Pardew said. "Our squad has been stretched to the limit."
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