We can keep on winning – United boss

Apr 5 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

KEVIN Keegan was in typically bullish mood yesterday when he stated his belief Newcastle United can win all their remaining matches this season.

The Magpies manager is not predicting his side will complete the campaign with an eight-match winning streak but sees nothing to fear from their final fixtures.

Four of their final six opponents are in the top half – three away – and another is derby rivals Sunderland but Keegan expects today’s opponents, relegation-threatened Reading, to provide their biggest test.

“Reading is our biggest game of the season because if we win I think we are safe,” said a manager who has lowered his sights after initially setting a 40-point target to avoid relegation. “I can then say, ‘What do we want to do between now and the end of the season, guys?’ I want to finish on a high.

“Suddenly, because of that performance at Spurs, those games are winnable – even Chelsea at home, if we play like we did at Spurs. Everton away, West Ham away, Portsmouth away, they are tough games but none of these teams are beyond us.”

Chelsea are still competing for the title and Everton for fourth, but both issues could have been decided by the time they face Newcastle. Keegan added: “They can all have the situation Spurs had when they have won something and you think, ‘Do we really want this because if we do, we might just get this game.’ (FA Cup semi-finalists) Portsmouth could just be the same, and West Ham. But Reading will be a different kettle of fish and we can send out a statement – three wins on the trot would be fantastic.”

On being appointed manager, Keegan set his team the goal of finishing the highest of those clubs not realistically in the running to qualify for Europe.

“We set them a target of the least we expect, which is to win the mini-league and we’re on schedule to do that,” he said. “There are three teams on the form of the last three games in the frame – Middlesbrough, Sunderland and us.”