Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is hoping to turn around his side's home form against rivals Sunderland.
Magpies boss hoping for derby triumph
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is hoping to turn around his side's home form against rivals Sunderland on Sunday.
The Magpies host the Black Cats at St James' Park this weekend in the Premier League in a much-anticipated Tyne-Wear derby.
But Newcastle have not won at home since thrashing Aston Villa 6-0 back in August, losing to Blackpool, Stoke and Arsenal as well as drawing with Wigan.
Hughton is set for contract talks with the club despite speculation earlier in the week suggesting that he was on the verge of the sack.
The Newcastle boss is now focusing on the visit of Sunderland and believes it would be the perfect time to get a long-awaited home victory.
"What we do know is we have done very well away from home, but we need to address our home form," he said.
"I am aware that we need to be making sure we are picking up some results, and it would be an ideal game to do it in."
Newcastle were on the receiving end of a 4-0 drubbing from the Gunners in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, with goalkeeper Tim Krul making an error for the opening goal on the stroke of half-time.
Hughton is looking to take the positives from the defeat, and has backed Krul to bounce back.
"Tim wouldn't have got himself to the position of being at this moment the first-team goalkeeper at Newcastle United without having the qualities he has," he added.
"Certainly as a goalkeeper, you have got to be resilient, you have got to be able to put mistakes behind you and look forward, and I am very confident he will."
