Former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas admits defeat at Brighton must act as a wake-up call.
Jenas says the slip should serve as a warning.
He told Match of The Day: "Yeah, look it's been a tough start to the season. I think going to Man City away obviously tough, Liverpool at home, what I didn't see in those two games was a lack of intensity, a lack of trying or poor attitude in any of them.
"Today, I saw a couple of signs that Eddie Howe wouldn't like to see. Granted it's a mistake from Nick Pope there with the kick, he rectifies that with a really good save, but this clearance from Tonali and then lack of closing down, he just jogs out.
"Those things there, as well as the dropped catch from Nick Pope and he sticks it away, would be worrying for me. This second goal - no communication.
"Dan Burn knows Pascal Gross is there, he should be screaming at one of his midfielders to go and pick him up. It's too late and he's got two people to pick up, so he has to drop off and Ferguson says 'alright I'll take you up on that offer' and he sticks it in the back of the net.
"The lack of communication was the second mistake. The third mistake, this is just horrendous defending.
"There's five players around Ferguson. Watch this from Schar - he just hangs out a leg. That's not good enough for a centre-half in any team in the Premier League, just hanging out a leg to block a shot is poor.
"They're in the Champions League now and Eddie Howe is right, the expectation is higher than high so they need to step it up."