Source: Northern_Echo
Nolan not counting chickens
THERE might be eight points separating Newcastle United from a place in the play-offs, but Kevin Nolan does not think the Championship's leaders can think about life in the Premier League just yet. With 13 matches remaining the Magpies reaffirmed their status as promotion favourites with a comfortable 2-1 victory at Watford, ending a three month wait for an away win. Nolan insists there remains plenty of room for slip ups if concentration levels are not maintained. We can't afford to look at gaps, said Nolan, after learning Newcastle are six points clear of second place. West Brom are a fantastic side, Forest are a good side. There are a lot of good sides around. We have to make sure we are doing at the end of the season what we have done at the start and in the middle. We have a tough 13 game period coming up seven away and six at home. We have still got to play Forest away and a few tough sides at home and away, so it is not going to be easy. We know whatever the gap, they are going to push us all the way so hopefully we will be ready for the fight and we will win the fight. Nolan, fit to play despite nursing a foot problem, was around last season to recognise how a lack of desire and camaraderie among the squad led to relegation. Newcastle are a different proposition in the second tier, with the commitment to see the job through at Vicarage Road an indication of just how much things have changed. I think we would have buckled last season when Watford came at us, said Nolan. It is not Premier League opposition but there was a lot of character shown and that is probably something we didn't have in abundance last year. But having it now has certainly helped us. This year we have stuck together and worked so hard to get where we are. Nolan also reserved special praise for the way Andy Carroll, who is now just one shy of Nolan's 12-goal tally for the season, led the line two days after his appearance in court. The 21-year-old has been charged with assault for an incident in a city nightclub in December, but that did not distract him from heading in Newcastle's crucial second. Nolan said: We have got to support him but he doesn't really need too much support because he has broad shoulders. Whatever comes of it, comes of it, but hopefully it will turn out right and he can continue to play football. Manager Chris Hughton confirmed that left-back Patrick van Aanholt has returned to Chelsea after his loan expired.