Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Hughton: Two points dropped

15 Mar 2009 - 11:03:34

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Newcastle United caretaker manager Chris Hughton claimed Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hull City was viewed as two points lost rather than one gained.

The Magpies kept out of the relegation zone after Steven Taylor cancelled out Geovanni's opener at the KC Stadium.

But after seeing his side boss the second half, Hughton was left to lament the failure to pick up three points in what is becoming an increasingly congested relegation battle.

"I'm disappointed we didn't get the three points we came for," he said. "We gave away a poor defensive goal very early in the game, which rocked us and gave them the confidence they needed.

"But having scored our goal at a good time, I was convinced at half-time that we were in the ascendancy and we'd come out and that would enable us to get the three points.

"I felt in the second half we were the side more likely to get the win."

Meanwhile, Hughton has admitted Newcastle's run-in - which sees games against Liverpool and Aston Villa in quick succession - will make their task of avoiding relegation more difficult.

"It's going to be a tough run-in towards the end of the season but we've been able to go up a place," he added.

"But the teams around us have tough games as well. Ours has been highlighted a bit more because of our next two games.

"We have got to make sure we win a better percentage of games than the others do."