Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has urged his team to pick themselves up and fight for their Premier League status after the disappointing loss to Norwich.
The Tyneside team were beaten 3-2 by the Canaries at Carrow Road on Saturday, with Martin Olsson scoring a cruel injury time winner for the hosts.
It leaves Newcastle in a tough position, with the club in 19th place and six points from safety with only seven games remaining.
The St James’ Park outfit will travel to the South coast to take on an able Southampton outfit this weekend and Benitez has stressed the importance of his team bouncing back from their latest disappointment.
“To concede the last one in the last minute is something we have to accept can happen when a team has no confidence and is at the bottom of the table,” the Spaniard told the club’s official website.
“But we have to react and we have to react quickly because we don’t have too much time.
“We have seven games to play. I said before that it would be difficult and that is the only way for us: to believe that we can do it, to work hard during the week and prepare for the game to try to get three points against Southampton.”
The Geordies have a tough run-in, with clashes against Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham all still to play.
Benitez has been brought to the club in an attempt to stop the rot, but Newcastle will need a dramatic change in fortunes soon if they are to avoid the drop.
