Alan Pardew insists that he was never going to play for a draw as he chased a goal against Sunderland, only to lose 1-0 in the final minute.
Adam Johnson condemned Newcastle to a fourth successive derby defeat for the first time in their history as Sunderland snatched a dramatic last-gasp 1-0 victory at St James' Park.
The Magpies finished the game with three strikers -- Ayoze Perez, Papiss Cisse and Adam Armstrong -- and attacking midfielder Remy Cabella on the pitch, but were still unable to force the breakthrough before disaster struck at the death.
Pardew, whose decision was described as "very brave'' by opposite number Gus Poyet, said: "This club wants to see goals. I am never going to be the manager of this football team and accept a draw at home as a positive result regardless of who it is against.
"But we should still have the discipline in the team, regardless of how many offensive players we have on, to do the job. It wasn't so much the offensive players, it was our defenders, really, who over-committed.
"But I am not here to criticise my team. They gave everything today, they tried to win it and if we are ever going to lose a game, then we would lose it in that manner, if I am honest, trying to push for a win.''
Pardew, who was under pressure from his own club's fans earlier in the season, now has to bear the burden of an unwelcome derby record, and it is one which is hard to take.
He said: "It's a good day for Gus and not for us.''