Personnel wise, we have a better starting XI (and squad) than Nowrich, Olbiyun, Slumberland, Swansea, Stoke and co. I don't think the likes of Everton and Fulham are (or should be) drastically superior to us either.
Newcastle have better midfielders than us, and two inform forwards. But their goals against figure is far better than ours also - and I don't think their defence man for man is better than ours (I accept that there is more to defending well than just having a decent keeper and backline).
So all the signs point to McPish underperforming and not getting the best out of the tools at his disposal unfortunately.