Younes reflects on Newcastle defeat

Younes Kaboul admitted Newcastle’s second half goals impacted on the players’ confidence in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.

After a solid first half in which Emmanuel Adebayor headed us into the lead, we were caught off-guard by Sammy Ameobi’s lightning-quick equaliser just eight seconds into the second period.

Ayoze Perez then glanced home Newcastle’s winner on 58 minutes, with captain Younes left to rue the absence of a potentially decisive second goal while we were in the ascendancy.

“We had the best start we could have had, 1-0 up and controlling the game in the first half,” said the central defender. “We didn’t concede any chances but then we let a goal in after about five seconds in the second half. At 1-1 we tried to push and score the second, but Newcastle then scored for 2-1 and that was terrible for us. After that, our confidence went down.

“We have another game on Wednesday against Brighton in the Capital One Cup where we need to make our task easier on the pitch by trying to kill the game as early as we can. Like Sunday, if we manage to score the second goal the game is over for sure. But we have to kill the game and avoid chances against us.

“We’ve no choice but to go forward now. When you get criticism, you have to face it.

“Every single one of us has to look forward and fight for the team and the Club and that’s what we are going to do.”