Darlow: ‘We must keep up the pressure’

KARL Darlow insists Newcastle United will head to Ipswich Town with a “positive mindset” and determined to put the pressure back on Huddersfield Town, despite the galling last-gasp draw against Leeds United.

The Magpies conceded an injurytime equaliser to drop two points against the Lilywhites at St James’ Park on Friday night, while Huddersfield Town claimed an 11thhour 3-2 victory over Preston North End courtesy of a contentious penalty decision.

Those results leave the thirdplaced Terriers eight points behind Newcastle, and with a game in hand.

However, though both sides are in action on Bank Holiday Monday, Rafa Benitez’s Magpies kick off at 3pm, while Huddersfield’s match at Derby County does not begin until after Newcastle finish playing.

Therefore Darlow is hoping Newcastle can heap the pressure back on to Huddersfield and extend the gap to 11 points with victory at Portman Road.

“Definitely we want to put the pressure back on Huddersfield,” Darlow explained.

“We look at every game, trying to win the game and I felt we did enough to win the game.

“It’s just football, and that’s why it’s loved around the world, because stuff like that happens.

“We just look at the points gap, and we know what we have to do. We want to do it mathematically as quickly as possible. That’s why I was so disappointed with the result because it would have been another big step in the right direction towards the Premier League.

“I think first and foremost we need to get promoted [and not think about winning the league]. That was the goal at the start of the season and it’s been a tough year.

“We’ve played some good stuff and still done very well in this league. We just need to finish it off now, and we’ve got four games to go and do that.”

Darlow praised the sell-out St James’ Park crowd for creating an atmosphere which he believes must put fear into opposition players. He said: “Coming to this place must be daunting for opposition players because they know they’re going to have 50,000 Geordies screaming at them, so it’s great for us to play in front of that.”