Hughton - No points targets

09 March 2009 16:18
Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton insists his players are well aware that they are in a relegation 'scrap' but he will not be setting a points target for survival.[LNB] The Magpies sit one point off the bottom three and have played a game more than 18th-placed Blackburn.[LNB]To make matters worse for Newcastle, they, arguably, face the most difficult run-in of all clubs in the bottom half of the table, starting with Saturday's crucial trip to relegation rivals Hull City.[LNB]However, Hughton - who is in temporary charge while Joe Kinnear recovers from heart surgery - is adamant his side are not daunted by the task and that they have not marked specific fixtures as a time to pick up valuable points.[LNB]BattlingHe said: "It changes from week to week when everybody starts looking at the bottom few clubs and results they don't expect them to get, and they are getting those results.[LNB]"I am not quite sure, but we are not really focusing so much on the points we feel we need to get, it's about looking after our business and getting as many points as we can.[LNB]"We have a group of lads here who are very aware of where we are at the moment, who are very aware of what the scrap will be, as will the numerous players at the numerous clubs who are in the same position as we are.[LNB]"We have just got to make sure we have enough battling qualities to get away from that group."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports