Cheick Tiote: We've never been more focused for the big one.

Cheick Tiote: We've never been more focused for the big one.

Cheick Tiote knows there is no hiding place for Newcastle United if they fail to win the Wear-Tyne derby this weekend – but is determined to send the Toon Army home from Wearside with a smile on their faces.

The Ivory Coast battler will be the man who leads the Magpies out at the Stadium of Light, and will be looking to make up for his red card in the corresponding fixture last term when he was sent off in the 1-1 draw.

His last two performances have been much more like the Tiote of 2010/11 when he was an instant hit with supporters and, having been handed the armband, he is showing new levels of maturity.

United have endured their fair share of stick already this season after some patchy form.

But Tiote says he is only working hard on being consistent.

The Toon captain told the Chronicle: “I don’t read anything on the internet or TV.

“It isn’t important for me. We just have to focus in the most important area – on the pitch.

“If we do our jobs we will win games. That is the most important thing.”

Should United show the same battling qualities like they did at Cardiff City in their last away game, Tiote is confident of another big result.

He added: “Our fans have travelled everywhere.

“I am always happy when we give them wins.

“We don’t want to send them home unhappy.”

But he knows that failure to deliver the goods will bring the critics flooding back.

However, he said: “There is no escape from the criticism if we lose games. It is hard. But we know we have good players in this team. If everybody is focused we will do well.

“The only way we can answer people is by winning. If we lose we have to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes.

“We have been trying to do that in the last few games. We must stay compact as a team and stay together. If we do we’ll win the game.

“When you’re on the pitch you have to give everything for the fans and the manager.”

Meanwhile, Steven Taylor continued his comeback from a hamstring injury yesterday as he looks to challenge for a start on Sunday.



An article from the Chronicle.

 

We are better than Cardiff mate, and still have given teams, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Man u a scare, there will be plenty of attacking from us, and now Ji and fletcher are back for this one, and hopefully O Shea and Bardsley dropped as they are finished as premier league players in my book.

 

No comparison to Cardiff on a Derby Day.

 

Sorry but you are bottom with 1 point. You can't say you are better than any team at the moment. That's not me having a go, just facing facts.

Form and everything else can go out the window on derby day as we all know. I can't think of a better time to play you, but that could just as easily go against us.

One thing I do hope is that the game is not spoiled early on by a silly red card

 

Monty appeared to be doing his best to support Sir Alex Fergusons views...

 

I'm glad your full of confidence mate, because I'm negative as ****, and that's usually a good sign for us.

 

That is why they so far have 8 times as many points as you. You say you gave Liverpool a scare you lost 3-1 and granted you did we drew 2-2 with them playing most of the match with 10 men.

 

I'm sorry but on recent evidence you are certainly not a better team than cardiff. Maybe have a couple of players who are slightly better technically but thats it. Form is out of the window for the derby anyway which is of more benefit to you than it is us. Just hope its a proper game of football. No drama overshadowing it. Oh, and we win 6 nil following cattermole getting sent off for a rare clean challange that benny makes a meal of in the 1st minute.

 

6-0 after playing against 10 men for 89 minutes? That's just not good enough.

 

They'd better be focused after the last debarcle against them. That hurt and they owe us. Massively. Nothing less than a three goal win would cover it. (Actually I'd be happy with a scruffy 1-0)

 

I'd take any win against anyone personally, lets face it a win is a win.

 

Think we'll all be happy with the 3 points.

 

I'm bricking it. Right now I'd take a draw but I hope our players aren't thinking like that!

 

Hope they're full of confidence and going out for the kill.

 

It's fact now for Tiote to be red-carded in a record 10 seconds, as he runs straight over to Gus Poyet and scythes him down with a two-footed lunge, bemoaning his 'poor timing' as he leaves the field.

 

Tiote I worry about the most for Sunday. He needs to be up for the game but not overtly aggressive because I could easily see him being sent off. Be nice to get a fair to mild ref on sunday. Keep ****s like Anthony Taylor and Martin Atkinson well away from this one.

 

I'd be happy with a draw but really its a game we should be looking to win if you took the derby factor out of it.

As long as they remember the last derby, they shouldn't go far wrong in terms of motivation. Nice to hear from Tiote but talk is cheap.

 

agree with all. Hopefully pardew making him skipper helps to calm him, which must be the intent

Have a feeling it will be a pretty nasty affair tbh