Rondon: The only way is up
STRIKER GIVES A NOD TO SUPPORTERS AHEAD OF VITAL HAMMERS CLASH
SALOMON Rondon believes Newcastle United fans have plenty of appreciation for the current Toon team.
In a week which has resulted in a real nostalgia trip – due to David Ginola’s appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football – comparisons have been made between then and now on Tyneside.
Ginola stated the current team will never be close to challenging for a title like the side built by Kevin Keegan in the 1995/96 season.
However, after winning three games in a row against Burnley, the current crop still had the 2,400 travelling fans singing and dancing in the away end at Turf Moor. Indeed, fans stayed behind for 20 minutes after the final whistle with a long rendition of “Who’s that team they call United”.
Rondon told The Chronicle: “What we have here now is the team spirit and we are all prepared to work hard. That will help us going forward this season.
“The supporters are with us all the way through.
“They can see we are working hard. For me that is great to see – they know we are doing our best.”
Newcastle battled hard at Burnley to record a 2-1 win on a night on which they were bombarded by long balls from Sean Dyche’s side.
Rondon, on loan from West Bromwich Albion until the end of the season, said: “We were so pleased to get another win but what is important to us now is to keep this going.
“We must continue to go in the same direction and make sure we do everything in our power to continue this. Whether that is winning headers, blocks on the line or taking our chances, it does not matter.
“At Burnley the other night they played a lot of long balls and we had to deal with all of them. We were trying to defend well.” The Magpies now face a West Ham side which has won just once in its last seven matches in the Premier League. United have also won their last three games against the Hammers on Tyneside. Rondon has called for focus this weekend and added: “We are at home and have to get the three points for the fans.”
What is important to us now is to keep this going Salomon Rondon