‘We’re still in a relegation battle. We can’t let up’
EDDIE Howe is refusing to concede that Newcastle are on the verge of securing Premier League safety.
Yesterday’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton at St James’ Park left the Magpies unbeaten in eight league outings, with five wins in their last six and, more importantly, seven points clear of the bottom three in 14th place.
However, with four successive away games at Southampton, Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham before they next play at home to Wolves on April 8, Howe is taking nothing for granted.
Asked if he thought they were on the way to safety, Howe said: “No, no I don’t.
“I still think we’re in a relegation battle and it’s very important the players feel that because we can’t let up, we can’t stop.”
Only title-chasing Liverpool (18) have managed to accumulate more
points than the Magpies (16) over the course of the last six Premier League games.
Newcastle’s latest win came in a game during which they were second-best for long periods, but effectively clinched the points inside three first-half minutes when inform duo Ryan Fraser and Fabian Schar struck.
However, they were forced to endure a concerted fightback by the visitors, who dominated possession, particularly in the second half, during which Lewis Dunk reduced the deficit with a 55th-minute header.
Howe’s opposite number Graham Potter was disappointed at a fourth defeat on the trot, but admitted his side had got what they deserved despite a performance of some merit.
Asked if the Seagulls had deserved more, the former Swansea manager said: “Performance-wise we did a lot well, I would say, but football is about scoring one more goal than the opponent and that’s what Newcastle did, so in that respect, no. We deserve what we get.
“We weren’t great in the first half overall, but I thought we were probably the better team, and then second half we improved again and scored a good goal, pushed and pushed. But it wasn’t to be.”