Chris Hughton: Wobble has done us good

Nov 11 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton argues Newcastle United’s October wobble was exactly what their promotion challenge needed to ensure they remain focused on what is required to bring them success this season.

United picked up just two points from a possible 12 last month as they failed to beat QPR and Bristol City at home and lost on the road to Nottingham Forest and Scunthorpe to place their supposedly cast iron their promotion credentials into doubt.

But Hughton feels the mini-slump actually strengthened his side’s chances of making an immediate return to the top flight, as it served as a harsh reality check regarding the dangers of complacency or arrogance in the Championship.

The Magpies have responded to the criticism sparked by that poor run with three successive victories and enter the international break with a two-point lead over second-placed West Brom and a six-point cushion between them and the play-off places.

“I think expectations had got higher and higher after our start to the season,” said Hughton, who has given the players a couple of days off this week to recuperate after a gruelling first third of the season. “But the little slump was a timely reality check. It reminded everyone that we are not going to simply walk this division. We are not going to run away with it.

“We have a six-point cushion again and that is good, but we have to maintain our recent form. We have seen how difficult this division is now because we didn’t

know too much about it before we actually got into the games. If you look at the season so far, everyone is taking points off each other.

If you look at the teams that came down from the Premier League, Middlesbrough have found it hard, particularly at home, and West Brom have lost games they weren’t expected to.

“So, although we have lost games, to be top of the league is pleasing at this stage, but there is still a long way to go. We are six points clear of the play-off places – that is a good position to be in.”