Darlow says Magpies are handling the pressure well

Karl Darlow believes Newcastle United’s players are thriving under the pressure of the Championship title race.

Many a team may has wilted over the weekend as the Magpies were yet again knocked off the top of the pile by Chris Hughton’s Brighton without kicking a ball.

But Darlow says United are made of tougher stuff than that.

In fact the 26-year-old, who was outstanding in Monday night’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, which took Newcastle back to the second tier summit, thinks the neck and neck scrap for the trophy brings out the best in the players.

On dealing with the pressure, Darlow said: “It does make the lads raise their game that little bit and it’s nice to have that pressure on us, I think.

“We’ve done well throughout the season and we need to finish it off and make sure this is an excellent season for the club so we can get back to where we should be.

“We relish the pressure. We know they’re all tough games in this league and we pack St James’s Park out every game so we owe the supporters performances. I think so far this season we’ve given back what we can.

“I think we’re on a good run at the minute and every time we lose top spot we want to win it back, so to do that on TV, it was an excellent performance, I think, and a very solid one.”

It has been an almost flawless campaign by Rafa Benitez’s men so far, as they’ve taken to second tier football like a duck to water, and despite a mid-season dip have looked head and shoulders above anyone at this level.

Iftherewastobeaflaw in the Magpies’ campaign it would probably be their home record.

Darlow thinks the packed houses at St James’s Park does bring a pressure of its own, but he admits he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“There’s a little bit of added pressure,” he said.

“We know this ground is more daunting for away teams soaslongaswecanusethatto our advantage and the fans are on our side, which they have been all season – they’ve been excellent – we’ll just carry on as we have been and hopefully keep grinding out victories.”