Last Updated: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:50
Sam Allardyce slammed the fixture list after Newcastle crashed out of the Carling Cup at the hands of Arsenal.
Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson did the damage for Arsene Wenger's young guns at the Emirates Stadium, but Allardyce was furious at having to play so soon after Sunday's Premiership fixture against West Ham.
Allardyce said: "I am more disappointed about being forced to play the game tonight.
"What we got in the end was a fatigued set of players who could not run any more or give any more, and Arsenal capitalised on that.
"We cannot control that. We are told to play and have to play. It is sad, but we had to try to deal with it.
"I do not know why we could not play on Wednesday night the same as Tottenham. I believe the police said we couldn't, but it happens in the north-west, and they have more police down here, don't they?"
The Newcastle boss added: "For Arsenal, it is fourth in the list this competition. For us, it is a high priority, to get as far as we can in the cup competitions.
"Drawing Arsenal away with the mood they are in at the moment was difficult enough, but to do it in these circumstances has contributed towards our defeat."