John Carver: 'Defeat to Sunderland will define my spell in charge'

Newcastle United manager John Carver has claimed that his side's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday will define his reign at the helm of the Magpies.

Jermain Defoe's thunderous volley on the stroke of half time proved enough to give the Black Cats a fifth consecutive Tyne-Wear derby win.

Carver told BBC Sport: "We are down to the bare bones but we should come to a stadium like this and do better than we did.

"It will define my spell in charge. It's not nice so I will suffer for a few weeks, months, possibly years."

Newcastle remain 13th in the Premier League table following their derby defeat.