Kinnear relishing challenge

Newcastle boss enjoying proving his critics wrong

Last updated: 4th December 2008

Joe Kinnear

Kinnear: Relishing challenge

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Joe Kinnear is looking for his side to string wins together as he relishes the challenge of proving his critics wrong at Newcastle.

The 61-year-old former Wimbledon boss was lampooned by some when he took over as Magpies boss on an interim basis back in September.

But he has confounded his critics by taking his side on a solid run of form and earning himself a stay at St James' Park until the end of the season at the very least.

His side have won two, drawn five and lost two of their nine league games under his stewardship to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

This is a welcome change in form as the Magpies were in free-fall when he took over, having lost their previous four league games.

Asked if he felt he had something to prove when he first arrived at St James' Park, Kinnear said: "Without a shadow of a doubt.

Massive task

"It was a massive task. People said 'you are going in at the wrong time'.

"They were on the floor when I arrived here. They were second from bottom, they had lost quite a few games to teams they should have been capable of beating.

"They had been beaten at home by Hull and Blackburn, so there were six points dropped. We need to address that and get those back elsewhere.

"Since I have come back, I have enjoyed it. I have had a tough time, there's no question about that.

"I know I am not the most popular, I understand that, but you get on with life and it is up to me to prove I am the man that's right for the job.

"Come the end of the season, I might be celebrating, who knows?"

Needs wins

While Kinnear has steadied the ship, he knows the Magpies need to string a run of wins together to pull right away from the drop zone.

The best they have achieved under his stewardship so far is two wins on the bounce, and they have drawn their last three matches to still be in the relegation mix, sitting just outside the drop zone on goal difference.

Kinnear, whose side face Stoke on Saturday in a crucial clash at St James' Park, added: "When we think we have got a good result, all the other scenarios have not worked in our favour.

"But good luck to those teams who are scrapping the same as we are.

"It will continue to go on until one team decides to win three on the spin and you see a big picture change."