Steve McClaren insists Newcastle will avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League despite suffering a 2-1 defeat at Watford on Saturday.
Odion Ighalo ended his four-game drought without a goal after he scored the opener just 44 seconds into the second half. Craig Cathcart then doubled Watford's lead shortly before the hour mark.
Jamaal Lascelles pulled one back for Newcastle, but the defeat - their third against Watford this season - leaves the Magpies occupying the relegation zone.
But McClaren was buoyed by his team's performance at Vicarage Road and is confident they will retain their top-flight status.
"We just said to the players that we won't have a problem if we keep performing like that every week," said McClaren, whose side are 18th in the league, one point adrift of Swansea.
"Many people questioned the attitude of these players earlier this season and whether they cared. Of course they do and you saw that today and in recent weeks. I thought we did everything today but win the game.
"It is disappointing and frustrating because we are not getting the results we deserve. But it is all about goals and if you don't score you don't win."
Watford caught Newcastle cold on the restart after Troy Deeney's dinked through-ball fell to the feet of Ighalo who rounded Rob Elliot to score his 14th goal of the season. The visitors then failed to clear their lines from a corner and Cathcart converted from six yards.
After Lascelles' headed home a Jonjo Shelvey corner, Newcastle, who have scored just six goals on their travels this season, pressed for an equaliser but they were made to rue a number of missed opportunities.
"Their first goal looked offside but he got the decision," added McClaren of Ighalo's opener.
"The first 10 minutes of the second period were very disappointing after what I thought was a very good first half.
"It gave us a mountain to climb which the players aimed to do and very nearly did. It was a good performance, but what wins games is at both ends and that has cost us today.
"At the moment that is letting us down and putting us in the position we are in. You can't fault the team, the football, the organisation. They are working hard, they are fighting, they are giving everything, but is just shows you with Ighalo and Deeney that you need quality at both ends."
For Watford, they ended a four-match losing run in the league and manager Quique Sanchez Flores was delighted to return to winning ways.
"I am really, really happy with the victory and the performance of the players," said Flores whose side moved up to 10th in the table.
"We came off a very bad run, and in terms of the feelings, it is difficult to convince the players it is just a bad run. I know how it works with the mentality of the players - they are a little bit down - so for us today it was very important.
"We are in the top half so we have a lot of reasons to be happy and we have to enjoy it. The target is the same - to survive in the category."
Source: PA
