Sean Longstaff makes tactical confession & speaks of "lazy comment" after Newcastle's big win

The Geordie midfielder has returned to the team and the Magpies have not looked back this week

Sean Longstaff believes teams have started to modify their game when they come up against Newcastle United and suggested that the "intensity" at St James' Park has never really gone away.

The Geordie midfielder has returned to the team and been part of two big victories this week on Tyneside. Longstaff felt it was a deserved victory against the Gunners.

Speaking directly after the match, Longstaff was asked if the win was down to hard work and told Chronicle Live: "Yeah, but I thought the moment of quality on the day came from us, really. Ant's crossed and Alex's header.

"We’ve said we're only as good as the top players in our team are, really, and they'll take us as far as we'll go, really. If they're at it, then we're a good team. If they're not, then we're not as good."

When asked if the intensity was back at Newcastle, Longstaff said: "I don't know, I think whenever we lose, people say we're not doing this, we're not doing that. I think if you watch the game and analyse the game, I think teams are playing a lot different against us.

"I think it's a bit of a lazy comment to say we're not doing this, we're not doing that. If you actually watch it and see how other teams are going against us and playing the game, I think we're trying to implement the same things, but teams are just playing different against us."

However, there is no doubt that the confidence had returned to the team following two big wins and two clean sheets against the Blues and Arsenal. The North Shields lad said: "A little bit. I mean, I think it's the first time in a while we've scored the first goal, so it tends to be a bit of an easier game when you're playing with the lead instead of trying to chase it.

"And teams maybe have to come out a bit more. Teams, they have to take more risks than being able to just sit in and defend against you. Yeah, like I said, I think the only thing that breeds confidence is how you train every day, how you go about your work every day. You're the only person that can give yourself confidence."