Wednesday 2 March 2016 23:44, UK
Newcastle United will avoid relegation if they continue to show the sort of character they displayed in their 1-0 loss at Stoke City on Wednesday night, says manager Steve McClaren.
The Magpies were beaten by Xherdan Shaqiri's late wonder strike to remain in the Premier League drop zone, a point from safety, albeit with a game in hand on their rivals.
However, McClaren was heartened by his side's display on the road and praised the fight his players showed at the Britannia.
"We have not had many away performances and we have talked a lot about that, but tonight was a good one, nice and solid and we deserved more," McClaren said. "We always talk about the process and you will get results nine times out of 10, but we did not this evening.
"We showed fantastic character with a makeshift back four, [Steven] Taylor just coming back from injury was magnificent, we were very organised, worked hard up front, grew into the game and got better and better.
"We were organised, disciplined and we talked about being in a fight and they showed that this evening. If we continue like that we can turn things around and be OK.
"I thought you saw real solidity this evening, the team was unified with a real determination from them and we have talked a lot about that in the 18 days.
"We have got 12 games, now it is 11, and we need a certain amount of wins and it is all about attitude. It is not about talent, but character and fight, and they showed that tonight and together with the talent we have to move on as Saturday [against Bournemouth] is a big game now."
The visitors may have even rescued a point in the Potteries, but for a sensational save from Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland in stoppage time to deny substitute Seydou Doumbia.
"The game is cruel," McClaren added. "Jack Butland twice now has been magnificent, once at St James' with some magnificent saves to deny us, and a great save at the end to deny us a point, which we deserved from our performance after we grew into the game."