Star’s United rallying call
DUMMETT CHALLENGES MAGPIES TO REPEAT LAST YEAR’S HEROICS
PAUL Dummett has warned his Newcastle United team-mates they must match the hunger of Manchester United’s rejuvenated players at St James’ Park in their first game of 2019.
The Magpies edged the corresponding fixture last season when Matt Ritchie lashed home the winner at the Leazes End to spark United’s escape from the relegation zone.
However, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now in charge of the Red Devils, they have netted nine goals in the last two games. When asked about having the desire to gain a big result, Dummett said: “Last season we showed that.
“We gave a great performance from the players and the fans and we have to make sure we are ready for that again.
“They have changed manager and gained some positive results so against a strong team it is going to be difficult.” However, Dummett knows this is a very different Man United side to the one which spluttered through the early part of the season under Jose Mourinho. He reflected: “It seems like that. They have scored more goals than they did under the previous manager and it looks like they are playing much more freely now.
“I am sure the manager will have us prepared in training and we will give our all.
“No games in the Premier League are easy.
“We have to make sure we are prepared to play against them.
“We know we have done it in the past against the big teams at home.
“Our home form has not been great but last season it kicked our season on.
“We have to try to replicate what we did last season.”
Dummett scored in this very fixture in 2016 during the Steve McClaren era in a 3-3 draw.
He added: “I did score against them and I would love another one because I don’t think I have scored since that game!
“It was either that one or against Palace, I don’t know which one was
first, but I would love to do that again.
“My job is to try and keep the ball out of our net but if I can contribute another goal that would be a positive.” Dummett was one of the key players in the 1-1 draw against Watford on Saturday and he added: “After leading for most of the game to concede right near the end was very disappointing. “However, we know every point is crucial in this league and we have to take the positives from our performance.
“It is another point on the board and we have to keep on going.
“In any game when you are winning, to concede towards the end is a massive kick in the teeth. “However, we have to keep on going and make sure we stay in this division.”
The left-back feels Newcastle have bounced back from that 4-0 hiding at Liverpool.
The Wales defender went on: “The manager said before the game we needed to show a reaction because that was not like us.
“We get beat but we don’t concede four goals in one game – I don’t think we have done that for a long while really.
“It was important we had a reaction, especially against a team we could compete against.”
I’m sure the manager will have us prepared in training and we will give our all. No games in the Premier League are easy.