Chris Hughton warns NUFC players to maintain standards

Mar 13 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton has warned Newcastle United’s players they will have to maintain the standards they set against Manchester United if they are going to avoid the drop.

Newcastle produced a much-improved performance in the 2-1 defeat by the European champions at St James’s Park last week to add some belief to their survival push.

Although Hughton was buoyed by that display, he also realises the end result was another defeat for a side who are only keeping themselves out of the drop zone on goal difference ahead of Portsmouth.

And the caretaker boss has ordered a similar performance against Hull City tomorrow as the Magpies go looking for the win which will galvanise their safety mission.

He said: “There has been criticism that the level of performance against Man United hasn’t been reproduced more often, and that’s fair comment.

“If our levels of performance had been matched on more occasions, we wouldn’t be in the position we are. But the fact is it hasn’t been matched and consequently that is why we are where we are.

“I was conscious of that on the night and afterwards. Sometimes it is a very difficult emotion when you finish a game against Man United and you are fighting with the disappointment because you haven’t got any points.

“There was certainly a feel-good factor at the game, but we have to reach those levels again and keep doing that for the next 10 games. Our success in doing that is what will keep us in this division.”

Hughton, who is expected to remain in charge of the team on a match day even when manager Joe Kinnear is fit enough to return to the training ground next month following heart surgery, acknowledged there had been plenty of

distractions and uncertainty at St James’s Park this season.

But he also argued it is up to the players to prove they are good enough to avoid playing in the Championship next season.

He said: “The very simple reason we are in the position we are is because we haven’t won enough games. If I look at the season, there have been changes in the season. It has been a very challenging season, as I am sure everyone would agree.

“We have also had the problems of having a lot of key players out who are valuable to the squad and that’s one that people appreciate and understand.