The comfort zone?

The game against Manchester United was significant for a number of reasons.

First off it proved that we can give anyone a game, even with players missing. Secondly it proved that certain players, like Danny Guthrie and Stephen Ireland, aren't as worthless as some fans have made them out to be in the last few weeks. And thirdly, the one point gained pushed us up onto that supposed magical 40 points.

It's a significant milestone in terms of Premier League safety and is generally regarded as the start of season target for those trying to avoid the drop. Whether it actually takes 40 points or not is a different matter, but once you reach it you'd be terribly unlucky to go down.

So we are there, what now? Can the team stay motivated to do the best they can with the games remaining? Will they take the foot off the pedal and see it as job done?

Not on your life!

These players that we have are not the best players that we've ever had in a black and white shirt, by any stretch of the imagination. However, most of them aren't as bad as they are made out to be at times. They'll go out and give their all, even Ryan Taylor, and for that I can't fault them. It's worked this season aswell, as the points total suggests.

I have a feeling that will carry on aswell, and I believe that now the pressure is off we will see some more results come our way. The squad is determined, and they also have a manager who is determined and won't let them rest easy.

Now I know that Alan Pardew is not the most popular guy on Tyneside, but at the end of the day he will want to do the best he can whilst in charge at St James' Park. He wasn't my first choice, in fact I don't think he was the first choice of anyone, but like it or not he is here and we should get behind him rather than nitpick.

Let the lad do his job. Let the results do the talking as, ultimately, they will be the judge of him. If he is as poor as certain people are making out then he won't be here very long, but why not give him a chance? Bitching and moaning will not bring Hughton back. I know that may come as a shock to some, but it's true.

For what it's worth I actually think that Pardew deserves some credit for the job he has done. Granted he inherited a solid platform to build on, but he has done well to keep the momentum going, with a far weaker squad available to him I hasten to add.

I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that the TEAM won't rest now they have hit 40 points, and by team I mean the players, the coaches and the manager.

There is a determination that was displayed against Manchester United on Tuesday, and that determination has left me feeling confident that the team will push on until the final whistle on the final day of the season.

Next up: Blackpool. We owe them one!