Federico Fernandez has admitted Newcastle must start their revival this weekend.
With Rafa Benitez’s side second-bottom and winless from six games in all competitions, including five defeats, the central defender says the next two games are vital.
Newcastle need to get themselves out of an early-season mess before relegation worries really kick in. They visit Crystal Palace and host Leicester next, before a trip to Manchester United in the last game before October’s international break.
There is concern over their lack of attempts on goal, with the Magpies joint-last alongside Huddersfield with 40 in those first five league games.
Argentina international Fernandez, signed from Swansea after the Welsh club went down last season, said: “We know it’s very important. We have a couple of games against teams who are maybe middle of the table now.
“It’s no excuse, but in these last five league games we knew it would be very difficult, against top teams. But we’ve approached them well, we’ve played like a team, but we didn’t take anything. Now we need to start taking points, because that’s what we need.”
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The 29-year-old added: “We need to analyse the good things and prepare for Crystal Palace away. We can go there and win the game, so we need to be ready, be focused and positive. We push high, we press and we have our chances.
“When you don’t score, it’s difficult. We need to keep working, defensively especially, and to create chances, score goals and win games now. Overall, the commitment and the effort from everyone has been really good, but we need to keep going.”
Benitez himself is keeping his cool, citing last season’s trials before his Magpies secured a tenth place finish in their first year back in the top flight.
Newcastle have played Big Six sides Tottenham , Chelsea , Manchester City and Arsenal in a tough opening stretch and lost each game by the odd goal, 2-1. Their other league fixture was a 0-0 at promoted Cardiff they could have won but for a last-gasp penalty save.
And Benitez said: “Obviously we have to start winning soon, because that will give us more confidence. But I don’t see a massive difference between teams.”
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