Fabricio Coloccini questions Newcastle's tough streak after Watford defeat

FABRICIO COLOCCINI says the Toon must toughen up quickly if they are to scrap their way to safety having become mired in a relegation dogfight.

 

Fabricio Coloccini has urged Newcastle to toughen up if they're to stay in the Premier League

 

Coloccini has first-hand experience of an unsuccessful battle to escape the drop after being part of the Newcastle side that fell into the second tier seven years ago.

And the skipper is clear the Magpies must add more bite to their play if they are to avoid suffering a repeat.

The defeat to Watford undid some of the good work that had allowed McClaren's side to follow up the 3-3 draw with Manchester United with victory over West Ham.

Instead of adding to that run, they missed out on the chance to climb out of the bottom three on Saturday, confirming the remaining weeks of the campaign will be a test of nerve.

 

"Maybe we are too nice," said Coloccini. "It is true that we need to win more tackles. If you look at all the 50-50s at the moment, maybe we are losing more than the opposite side and that is not good enough.

"Sometimes, in our team, that can make the difference. We have great football players with the ball, but we need the ball. And to get the ball, we need to be winning that tackle. That is an important point.

"We created a lot of chances, and played quite well in the transition, but we couldn't score. It's something we need to learn, and we need to learn quickly because we cannot allow it to keep happening like it is.

"We are missing chances and conceding too many chances to the teams we are playing against. That is something we have to do better."

 



Craig Cathcart put Watford 2-0 up on Saturday



 

Full-blown commitment is the least Steve McClaren can ask from his players but there was an alarming loss of concentration during the opening 12 minutes of the second half that allowed Odion Ighalo and Craig Cathcart to put Watford in control.

And Coloccini added: "If we are constantly winning one and then losing one, that is not going to be good enough.

"We said right from the beginning of the season that we need to be strong at home, and we need to be taking points away. That is the important thing - don't lose the games.

"It doesn't always matter if you win, but you have to be taking points and we are not doing that enough at the moment. Even if it's just a draw away from home, it is better than losing like we are just now."

 

Jamaal Lascelles scored his first Premier League goal to give Newcastle hope

Jamaal Lascelles' 71st-minute reply gave the visitors hope of getting something out of the game but having seen his side slip to defeat, McClaren will attempt to strengthen his squad in the remaining days of the transfer window.

Tottenham's Andros Townsend and West Brom striker Saido Berahino remain targets and McClaren will hope any new arrival can slot in as quickly as Jonjo Shelvey, who has immediately given the side more steel.

While McClaren is battling to turn his side's fortunes around, Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores had two reasons to be satisfied.

 

Victory ended a run of four league defeats while Ighalo's 14th goal of the season was the striker's first in five games.

Already on 32 points, the Hornets are closing in on the 40-point safety target and on-loan left-back Nathan Ake admits he is still coming to terms with finding himself above parent club Chelsea in the table.

"It is a bit odd but a good feeling in that I am here now! Of course it's good to be higher in the table but I'm sure they will turn things around," he said.

"When I left Chelsea I didn't look forward too much. The first thing was to come here and start playing football. After that it's about keeping on developing.

 

"Of course I think I have a chance of getting into the Chelsea team at some point, otherwise we wouldn't go there."

WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Gomes 7; Paredes 7 (Nyom 88), Cathcart 7, Britos 6, Ake 5; Capoue 6, Watson 8; Deeney 9 (Amrabat 90), Jurado 8 (Abdi 77), Behrami 7; Ighalo 7. Booked: Britos, Behrami. Goals: Ighalo 46, Cathcart 58. NEXT UP: Nottm Forest (a) Sat, FA Cup.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Elliot 8; Janmaat 6, Lascelles 7, Coloccini 6 (Riviere 88), Mbemba 6; Sissoko 7, Saviet 5 (Perez 57, 6), Shelvey 6, Aarons 5 (Gouffran 57, 5); Wijnaldum 6; Mitrovic 4. Booked: Mbemba. Goal: Lascelles 71. NEXT UP: Everton (a), Feb 3, PL.

REFEREE: A Marriner (Bimingham).