Keep it real lads - but make sure you win!

By Lee Ryder on Oct 27, 06 12:58 PM

We can't lose to Charlton.

It's as simple as that.

Or at least that's what the feeling will be for those trooping up to St James' Park at teatime tomorrow.

Defeat is more unthinkable then impossible but a repeat of the defensive shambles in previous home Premiership clashes can only spell defeat against the team propping up the rest of the League.

However, the pressure cooker that is Newcastle United Football Club has given us more than one thing to be optimistic about this week.

Firstly, United put in a solid defensive display in midweek and everybody including the previously under fire Titus Bramble emerged with credit.

At the training ground big Nigel Pearson has already tightened things up a little bit and the work paid off with a clean sheet against the previously free-scoring Pompey.

After that the return of Kieron Dyer is also a big plus with the midfielder demonstrating what he has to offer during his 30 minute cameo in the rain on Wednesday.

Nobby Solano has been written off by certain sections of the Toon fans but his two goal blast serves as a reminder he isn't finished just yet despite the long chat he had on the touchline with Glenn Roeder at Middlesbrough on Sunday after finding himself out of the picture.

Oba Martins is a doubt for the Charlton game but Seppe Rossi's game does hand Roeder a player who is hungry and in form after notching for the first time at Gallowgate in midweek.

And should he link up with Dyer in attack what kind of wonders can they work against a leaky Charlton defence who have struggled on the road.

Damien Duff is also due a goal and demonstrated what he has to offer as a second half sub against Pompey.

Hopefully there is more to come too.

But while United are near the relegation zone nobody is doing backflips just yet.

Scott Parker this week said that in Newcastle the praise is too high for a win and the stick is often too heavy if United lose.

Parker called for some middle ground and perhaps he's right.

It's hard to say that there is a crisis going on at Gallowgate with United still in both cups and in Europe but sometimes it does feel like that one after defeat.

Losing to Charlton tomorrow night will still only trigger one reaction...but that's just Newcastle for you isn't it?

Latest guest at Idols for the latest in their series of free pre-match talk-ins is former 'keeper Kevin Carr - from 4pm.