One of them he signed for Newcastle.
Just for old time’s sake, Steve McClaren recorded another loss at St James’ Park this weekend.
The difference being this time, he was in the opposing dugout, with Derby County.
The Rams had been in good form and McClaren was hopeful ahead of the game that they could take advantage of a Newcastle side which had gone two games without a win, and had no extra impetus from the transfer window after the club failed to sign a single player.
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Instead Derby came away with a 1-0 loss, with Matt Ritchie scoring a deflected goal.
Matt Ritchie scores Newcastle United’s first goal
McClaren felt his side were overawed early on, and picked out two Newcastle players who he says ‘dominated’ the Championship clash.
He told Derby’s official website: “I was disappointed with the first half, we didn’t show enough belief and stood off them too much.
“Mitrović and Diame dominated us and we couldn’t get a platform in the game. I actually thought we settled down a bit and then they scored with a deflected shot.”
Aleksandar Mitrovic of Newcastle United shoots at goal
Serbian striker Mitrovic was a player signed by McClaren in 2015, while Diame was an addition last summer by current Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez.
He went on to add that he felt Derby should have come away from the stadium with a point.
Derby County manager Steve McClaren reacts to a missed chance to score
“We shouldn’t have lost that game because we were better after half-time, showed more belief and fought with real commitment.”
It is up to McClaren to work out why his side were off the pace so early and find a solution to stop it happening in future, with the defeat costly for the Rams.
They slipped out of the play-offs from sixth to eighth place, three points now behind Sheffield Wednesday, while Newcastle are back at the top of the league.
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