‘It is all about points for wins and not records’

DEFOE IS CLOSING IN ON 5,000 MILESTONE

NEWCASTLE Eagles go into tonight’s crucial BBL Championship clash against Cheshire Phoenix looking for a first win in three home games, something which is not supposed to happen to a Newcastle side usually so dominant on their home court, writes Jeff King.

Last week against London Lions, the Eagles slipped to a potentially league-losing defeat as the destiny of the BBL Championship was taken out of their own hands.

Captain Darius Defoe says while it is a loss which hurt, the side must continue to fight together for the rest of the season.

He said: “It was a really damaging loss, of that there is no doubt.

“All our losses this season have been tough to take.

“That one really hurt but we have to keep our heads down, keep working and keep playing together.”

Barely 48 hours later and the Eagles were on the road in Manchester for a game they were expected to win - and win they did by the impressive margin of 97-60.

Defoe added: “We had practised on the Saturday after the Lions loss and we were able to talk over a few things together, so when we came in to the game on Sunday we put our thoughts into action and it came off and we got the win.”

It was a game which saw Defoe put in a captain’s performance as he recorded a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds to help his team to the win - and at the same time take his BBL points tally to within two of 5,000 in his career.

That should be a milestone he can complete tonight against Cheshire.

To be able to do that in front of the fans he’s played so long for and be able to celebrate the achievement would make Defoe a proud man. He admitted: “It would be a great achievement to get 5,000 points in the BBL. “I have been here since I was 18 years old and I have worked hard so it would be good to be only the second player in the Eagles’ franchise to get to that. “However, the big thing is to get that win in front of our own supporters and restore some faith. “We will take any win whether it be by one point, two points or whatever - we have to take that win. “I don’t think we have ever lost three home games in a row under Fab (Flournoy) so that is the most important thing, to get that win and then we can discuss the 5,000 points afterwards.”

The Eagles will again go in to tonight’s game without the services of American power forward Terry Martin. That adds even more responsibility to Defoe’s shoulders as he looks to help his team.

Add in the fact the Eagles again face two weeks without a game following tonight’s encounter and it makes it even more imperative they go into a break they would rather not have on a winning note.

The skipper added: “I would rather be playing every week than having a break but that is the schedule and you have to live with it.

“That is why we need to get that win. It will be easy to have a break knowing you won last time out.

“It is not extra responsibility as we just play together and keep it going.

“It is unfortunate Terry is out. We just have to forget about it and make sure we take that win.”

The big thing is to get that win in front of our own supporters and restore some faith... We’ll take any win Darius Defoe