Hughton Plays Down Grudge Match!

23 October 2012 22:11
Chris Hughton has dismissed any notion this weekend's Premier League trip to Paul Lambert's Aston Villa will be a grudge match for those players he left behind in Norfolk.

The former Toon boss is confident the bigger picture and the hunt for more league points will be the main motivation for his squad after a superb first televised top flight win of the season against Arsenal at Carrow Road.

Chris Hughton: “I think they will see it as just another game.

"It’s another three points to play for and I’m quite sure from the other camp they would say exactly the same.

“I have to say morale has always been good and I think probably what helps a little bit is the fact that although we haven’t picked up the points we’d like, there has always been a group of teams around us as well so it’s not as if the fact we haven’t got the wins has seen us separated from the rest of the division.

" I don't believe Arsenal’s stars paid for any complacency at Carrow Road.

“No, they are far too professional an outfit and they have far too much quality to treat anybody lightly.

“I just think it’s on the day – if you play well enough on the day and you restrict their chances enough or have a fair bit of luck or you have a goalkeeper that has a blinder, they know they can lose any game.

“But you need things to go for you and what went for us was the performance was good enough.”

Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD