Keegan backs under-fire stars
17 Mar 2008 - 09:22:14
-
- Keegan backs under-fire stars
Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan insists his players care about the club's current predicament and are desperate to put matters right on the pitch.
Since Keegan returned to St James' Park, United have scored three goals and conceded 20, a disturbing run of form that has seen them slip to only three points above the relegation zone.
Monday's game at Birmingham City, two points and two places below Keegan's side, has the makings of a classic relegation six-pointer, and the Magpies manager is looking forward to the match.
"It's a nine-game season now. We can't do anything about what's gone," he said.
"There's no point thinking about what's happened in the past. You can get disappointed or talk about bad luck in a couple of the games, but to be honest with you, they're gone.
"With nine games left, there's still 27 points to play for. We have five of those games away, and four of them at home, and a lot of those games - Birmingham away, Reading, Sunderland and Fulham at home - are against teams that are down there with us.
"We know what we've got to do and the players know what's needed. It's in our hands.
"I do think the players are hurting. I can understand both the press and public questioning players sometimes - not just at this club but at other clubs as well - I can only vouch for the ones that are here.
"The training has been good and I can see what they're like when they get beat - they're devastated. There's none of this: 'Oh well, it doesn't really matter'.
"If I saw that, I would tell them and I would tell you. They're a good set of lads trying very, very hard but, at the moment, they just need a break."