Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle have unfinished business with Iron
DANNY Guthrie has highlighted October's humiliating 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United as the turning point of Newcastle's season.[LNB] The defeat came just three days after the Magpies had lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, and dropped Chris Hughton's side into second, just a point ahead of the play-offs.[LNB] After trooping off the field at Glanford Park, Newcastle's players held an impromptu clear-the-air meeting, and the club's subsequent 22 Championship matches have included just one defeat.[LNB] Scunthorpe return to the agenda tomorrow as the Magpies look to maintain their unbeaten home record, and Guthrie says his team-mates have unfinished business.[LNB] The Scunthorpe game at their place was a defining moment for us, said the midfielder, who will hope to continue in a central-midfield berth despite the expected return to fitness of skipper Alan Smith. It proved to be a turning point.[LNB] It was a horrible night and easily the most painful result of the season. Afterwards a lot of things were said in the group and we knew what we needed to do to make sure that didn't happen again. I think we'd all like to put the record straight with them.[LNB] The manner of capitulation at Glanford Park raised questions about Newcastle's ability to survive the hurlyburly of the Championship, but after pledging not to be brushed aside as easily again, they have developed into the division's most durable outfit.[LNB] We got the right response,[LNB] said Guthrie. We had a moment to ourselves in the dressing room and we just said to ourselves, Right, this stops here', because we were on a bit of a bad run. It did stop, and we went on a seven or eight-game winning streak.[LNB] We're in a really strong position now.[LNB] That position was strengthened by Saturday's 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough, a game that provided further evidence of Newcastle's ability to grind out a result despite failing to hit top gear.[LNB] It turned out to be a good point in the end for us with other results, and that's been a feature of our season, said Guthrie. Even when we haven't been at our best, we've managed to come away with something from the match and that's why we are where we are in the table.[LNB] I think the Boro game shows the resilience we have in the squad. We'd have loved to have gone on to win the game after we equalised, but that might have been pushing it a bit. The most important thing was not to lose.[LNB] We don't know when we are beaten. That comes with confidence. We've only lost four league games this season.[LNB] When we conceded the second goal, it took the wind out of our sails a bit, but we rallied and went again.[LNB] Joey Barton will make his first public appearance for six months when he lines up for Newcastle reserves at Hartlepool tonight. The midfielder, who made a 45-minute appearance in a behind-closeddoors game with Hibernian last week, has been included in the squad for the game at Victoria Park (7pm).[LNB] Kevin Nolan has been named Coca-Cola Championship Player of the Year at the FourFourTwo Football League awards.[LNB]
