HAVING done more than most to get Newcastle United off to such a good start this season, Demba Ba has promised not to let it go to waste.
The previously-unbeaten Magpies suffered their third defeat in four Premier League matches at Norwich City on Saturday, despite two goals from Ba. It left the 11-goal striker describing Saturday’s visit of Swansea City as a must-win game.
When asked if the campaign was in danger of unraveling, he replied: “We’re not going to let that happen.
“We’ll make sure we will prepare our game and we’re going to go onto the pitch to win the game. We need to win.” The defeat saw Newcastle drop to seventh in the Premier League, and after a start which led some to talk of European qualification, harsh reality seems to be biting a fragile squad.
“It’s difficult to get into the top four,” argued the former West Ham United player. “Have you seen the teams? They’re unbelievable. If we can make it into the top half of the table we’ll be happy.”
The Senegalese striker has now scored more league goals than the rest of the Newcastle squad put together this season, but the absence of a centre-back cost them dearly at Carrow Road. Three of Norwich’s goals in the 4-2 win came from headers, the other was made by one. Stand-in centre-backs James Perch and Danny Simpson struggled against bigger opponents, but Ba claimed collective responsibility.
“I don’t think we had a good game as a team, we could have been better,” he said. “We conceded the goals at a bad moment and those goals put our heads down.
“It was difficult coming into the match with so many injuries. We lost our best players last week in (Fabricio) Coloccini and (Steven) Taylor and started with a brand new defence.
“If our centre-backs were big, massive and could head the ball it could have been different. That was the key. They were playing long balls and it was difficult for Danny Simpson to compete against (Grant) Holt or against Steve Morison.
“We have (centre-back Mike) Williamson who is on his way back, we have Coloccini who will be fit for next week, Cheick (Tioté) as well. If we have our full squad – minus (Sylvain) Marveaux and Taylor – we’ll be okay.” Newcastle also lost midfielder Danny Guthrie to injury last week, and will now be without Dan Gosling, suspended for three games after a straight red card for a shin-high tackle on Russell Martin shortly after Morison put Norwich 3-1 up.
“It could have been different with 11 on the pitch, it’s not easy – we learned that the previous week – but we just don’t know how it would have turned out,” said Ba. After a slow start to his Newcastle career during the fast of Ramadan, Ba is the league’s joint-second-highest goalscorer this season.
“I don’t think I’ve been on a better run of scoring,” he reflected. “I had a good period in Belgium (with Mouscron) when I scored eight in ten games. I just try to enjoy it, keep working hard and enjoying playing football.
“I expected from myself to do well. I was prepared for that. I was also prepared for the battles we will face as a team this season.”
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