The Chronicle

We are all looking to finish as champions

- By LEE RYDER Chief Sports Writer lee.ryder@ncjmedia.com @lee_ryder

PAUL Dummett insists Newcastle United players will regard losing out on the Sky Bet Championsh­ip title as a big disappoint­ment this season.

The Magpies lost ground on Brighton last weekend after losing to Sheffield Wednesday to surrender top spot in the second tier of English football.

Newcastle are hoping Wolves do them a favour this afternoon before netting three points themselves against Leeds.

Dummett said: “Winning the title matters. Everyone wants to win the league, everyone wants to win trophies.

“If you do not want to win silverware then you are in the wrong game.

“We are second at the moment with Brighton ahead of us but we have a massive game which is the most important thing, against Leeds.

“It will be tough so our aim is to get the three points and if we do that it will put ourselves in an even better position with four games left.

“If we keep winning, hopefully, that will be enough to win the league.”

However, Newcastle must buck their ideas up after the poor show at Sheff Wed on Saturday evening.

Dummett added: “We had discussion­s after games with the manager and the full team.

“He goes through things, what he thought we did well and what he thought we did badly.

“We talk about it and once we had talked about and thought about it, then it is forgotten and we concentrat­e on the next game coming up. “Preparatio­n started straight after Sheffield Wednesday.”

Dummett needs no reminding how hard it will be against a Leeds United team which could arrive at St James’ and put 10 men behind the ball.

The defender said: “The season has been difficult for us.

“Newcastle are a massive team and every team wants to play against us and beat us.

“It has probably been their big gest game of the season and St James’ Park has probably been the toughest it has been for us.

“Teams coming to us and sitting back and defending for their lives – in the Premier League that does not happen.

“Yes, we have found it difficult but we have managed the results and that is the main thing.

“From the start of the season our main aim was to win promotion and we have put ourselves into a very

good position. There are five games left and we will take one at a time.”

Dummett also reflected on his own form this season - but admits there is competitio­n again for the left-back slot.

Indeed, both Massadio Haidara and Achraf Lazaar are pushing Dummett close for a place in the first team.

Dummett said: “I have played most weeks. That was my main aim individual­ly – to play every week.

“The most important thing is the team. My individual performanc­es can help the team’s overall performanc­e. Yes, I have been pretty consistent throughout the season and the manager has seen that to keep on picking me every week.

“I just have to stay on my toes because we have three others who can play left back as well, who have been injured throughout the season, so I know if I am not playing very well then I can be replaced by any one of them.

“I have to be on top form to keep playing.”

 ??  ?? Paul Dummett admits losing the title to Brighton would be a major disappoint­ment
Paul Dummett admits losing the title to Brighton would be a major disappoint­ment
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