United command the Championship

Dec 21 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United boss Chris Hughton believes the battle against complacency will be the biggest test of his runaway leaders in the second half of the season.

A straightforward Tyne-Tees derby victory over a poor Middlesbrough sent United, who have now gone nine games unbeaten, ten points clear at the top of the Championship.

It is a formidable lead and with all of their strikers in deadly form it would take a horrendous collapse in the New Year to prevent United from bouncing back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

For Hughton, however, protecting United’s players from believing that they are already as good as back in the top flight will be the number one priority entering the festive period.

“It’s a case of job done. We knew it would be a difficult game because Middlesbrough have been good away from home,” he said.

“There’s a lot of quality in their side but I thought we went about the game in the right way. We scored at good times.

“I think guarding against complacency is one of the biggest challenges we will face now. We are where we are, we are the team to beat and be shot down.

“We’re the team that everyone has to catch so we have to make sure as a squad and group of staff that we continue to do the things that got us here in the first place.

“Not doing that is what we have to guard against because the games will not get any easier than they have been in the first half of the season.

“But if we go about our business in the same way then of course we’ll have a chance.” Victory over Boro came courtesy of another pair of goals from United’s in-form strikers, who have now scored ten of United’s last 11 goals between them.