EVERTON captain David Weir insists the best team lost at St James' Park.

The visitors suffered their first Premiership defeat since December 28, but central defender Weir felt that is own team looked the stronger in the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.

The Scottish international twice came close to putting the visitors ahead with headers which were cleared off the line by Newcastle's Turkish midfielder Emre before the Magpies struck through a Nolberto Solano brace in the second half.

Weir said: "We played well and I thought we were the better team.

"We should have come away with something but there is a fine line in this league and when you go behind you leave yourself a mountain to climb.

"The team that scored first was always going to be the winners and unfortunately I had a couple cleared off the line and we had a couple of other chances that went quite close, but we couldn't quite do it.

"We can't be happy with any defeat. There are things we have to improve on without a doubt, but that is what we are all about. We are trying to get better.

"We have been on a good run but that has ended now, so we have to try and get on another one."