Source: Northern_Echo
Defence impresses skipper
CAPTAIN Alan Smith hailed Newcastle's back four for providing the foundations for the team to mount their Championship challenge.[LNB] United's latest shut out against Watford on Saturday was the 11th time in 19 outings the team has recorded a clean sheet this term, four more than the whole of last season.[LNB] They have conceded just ten goals in the process only Chelsea and Leeds can equal that record in the whole of the Premier League and Football Leagues.[LNB] I was not aware that we have jointly the best defensive record in the country,[LNB] confessed Smith, when the statistic was put to him. It is something Newcastle have not been renowned for being great defensively. It comes as a collective unit.[LNB] The first goal came from (Marlon Harewood) closing down. People have always said it has been a weakness here. So full credit to the two centre halves and the keeper who have been outstanding this season.[LNB] (Fabricio) Coloccini especially has developed so much.[LNB] It would have been easy for him to up sticks and leave in the summer when it was not going well for him, but as everyone can see now in his performances doing exactly what we all want to see, and long may it continue.[LNB] All good teams like Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal have all built it on great defences. Not just the defence but a collective unit. In the second half you saw that.[LNB] We knew the stats, they (Watford) work very hard as a team, the hardest in the league and we knew it would be difficult.[LNB] They are a good team and they came here with nothing to lose and it was one of the most difficult games of the season. They have got good young players and they express themselves.[LNB] The triumph means Newcastle have lost only once in 11 games and lead the table by four points going into to tricky games at Coventry and Barnsley.[LNB] Smith, however, refused to get carried away by United's recent good form and prominent position at the top of the Championship.[LNB] We are not even halfway through the league season yet and we have to keep this run going as long as possible,[LNB] said the combative midfielder.[LNB] Get complacent in this league and you will get beaten, because there are enough good players around to punish you.[LNB] Watford will go away disappointed not to have got something and us going down to ten men probably hindered them because we could sit back more than normal.[LNB]
