Thursday 5 January 2017 18:30, UK
Matt Ritchie says the mood at Newcastle is not "doom and gloom" and has backed the team to bounce back from two defeats in their last three games.
The Magpies were beaten at home by Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day and then lost at struggling Blackburn on January 2.
While the results were sandwiched by a win over Nottingham Forest, Brighton won all of their festive fixtures to move top of the Sky Bet Championship.
The Seagulls are now two points clear with a game in hand, but Ritchie told the EFL Weekly Podcast that Newcastle will get their title challenge back on track.
"It's not all doom and gloom," he said. "We have lost a couple of games but it would be an unusual season if you went through it unbeaten.
"We need to bounce back and get back on the kind of run we have been on.
"The form we were in we would have liked to have picked up more points over the Christmas period but it's a tough league and we know every game is a difficult test.
"It's a bit of a stumble but hopefully we can continue the good form from the first half of the season into the second half."
Newcastle's two defeats in three games have coincided with the loss of Jonjo Shelvey, who is suspended for five matches for using racially aggravated language towards an opponent.
But Ritchie said: "The results are not completely down to him missing because we have lost games with him in the team.
"Everyone knows the quality he brings to the team. His attributes are fantastic and any team would miss him. He's a big player for us but we have a good squad with very good players in that position and collectively we need to improve on the last couple of results."
Ritchie stepped down from the Premier League in the summer when he left Bournemouth to join Newcastle.
It's not all doom and gloom. We have lost a couple of games but it would be an unusual season if you went through it unbeaten.
He admits it was a risk, but added: "I have come to a club in the Championship, but with the squad and manager we have there is a great opportunity to get back into the Premier League.
"Then I'm at a fantastic club that is geared up for the Premier League with a huge fanbase so it's a risk I was willing to take."
Newcastle travel to Birmingham in the FA Cup this weekend before facing Brentford, Rotherham and then Brighton.
Ritchie, who has won the Championship before with Bournemouth, says finishing top is still the aim.
"We want to get promoted but we want to win the league," he said. "I have won it before and it's fantastic. Hopefully we can do it this season."
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