Matt raps Toon’s low spirit levels
MATT RITCHIE has called on his Newcastle team-mates to rediscover the spirit which earned them a top-half finish last season.
Ritchie is becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of self-belief within the squad.
And he didn’t hold back in the wake of their eighth home defeat at the hands of Manchester United in midweek which plunged Rafa Benitez’s side back in the relegation mire.
“The whole place just lacks belief,” said the former Bournemouth winger.
“The feeling in the stadium was that once we went one behind, it was done. We have to keep believing.
“That is the main thing. Confidence and desire too.
“The players on the pitch need more belief and the fans as well. It is about reaction and we need to react better because we do have that threat.”
Newcastle were in a similar position to where they are now 12 months ago, only to pull away from the foot of the table and finish 10th.
Ritchie added: “Last season we were fantastic. We need to go again now.
“We’re in a fight and while we knew it would be tough this season, we need to roll our sleeves up and get on with it. This is where we find out if we have got the characters and the belief and determination to achieve what we did last season. Hopefully we can come together and really pull through.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Newcastle’s last major triumph, when Bob Moncur lifted the Fairs Cup in 1969.
Barren
But even Toon boss Benitez doesn’t hold out much hope of their barren run ending in FA Cup glory in May, delivering a thinly-veiled dig at Mike Ashley’s running of the club. Newcastle have won just five FA Cup ties under his ownership and have not gone past round four in 13 years.
Benitez said: “I can see the potential here but it will be difficult if we don’t change something in the future.”
He will give a start to England Under-20s World Cup-winning keeper Freddie Woodman, while fit-again Florian Lejeune could also figure in a much-changed side against Blackburn at St James’ Park today.
“You can achieve what you want to achieve by doing the right things at the right time or by spending money and each club has its own way,” added Benitez.