Newcastle United moved up to second place in the Championship after victory on Saturday.
Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles
Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has divulged what he believes is behind his side’s improvement in form and results since they began Championship life with back-to back losses, as quoted by the Northern Echo.
The 22-year-old led the Magpies to a 2-0 win over his hometown club Derby County on Saturday night, and Lascelles described how the team is beginning to gel:
“It wasn’t the start we were looking for to the season when we lost the first two but we are starting to gel.”
Jamaal Lascelles
During their four game winning streak in the league, while there have been some impressive displays, Rafa Benitez’s men have been efficient in attack and steady at the back rather than blowing teams away in spectacular style.
Saturday’s victory was the third time out of their last four clashes where they have lost out to the opposition in the possession stakes.
Benitez highlighted this earlier in the week, when he stated that in modern football, possession is not as important as it once was and how a team can be just as effective without the football (Newcastle United official website).
Lascelles went on to explain to the Northern Echo how he believes that Newcastle’s impressive run of form is down to them wanting to make amends from their relegation last term:
Jamaal Lascelles in action
“I just think we want it. We were all obviously really upset with being relegated. I think we all really want it a lot so everyone’s giving 100 per cent and making those last-ditch tackles and headers and defending well from the front to the back.”
Newcastle’s next test is a trip to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.
Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles in action
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