Fabricio Coloccini has demanded improvements from Newcastle after insisting their draw against Aston Villa at the weekend was not good enough.
Skipper insists Newcastle dropped two points against Villa
Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini has demanded improvements from his side after insisting their draw against Aston Villa at the weekend was not good enough.
The Magpies had to rely on midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa for a share of the spoils at St James' Park on Saturday as his 59th-minute screamer sealed a 1-1 draw.
Coloccini has called on the Toon to up their game after the international break, although he admits last weekend's point could be crucial come the end of the season.
He told the club's
official website: "We lost two points because we were at home, and when we are at our stadium then we have to take three points, especially against teams like Aston Villa.
"We will take a point and maybe at the end of the season it will prove to be a very important point. It could be a nice point for us.
"Hatem's goal was great - that is what happens when you have good players like that because in one moment he can change the game. We should have maybe gone on to win, but this happens in football.
"It is not about the players, however, it is about the team and we have to improve.
Tough
"If we want to have as good a season as last year then we have to get much better.
"We have got some tough games and months ahead of us and it is important that we get back to where we know we can be."
The international break means Newcastle have to wait a fortnight until their next Premier League game, against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday, 17th September.
Coloccini, who will be away with Argentina, hopes the two weeks will give some of the club's injured players time to regain fitness.
He added: "The squad is quite stretched because we now have Danny Simpson injured, as well as Shola Ameobi, Ryan (Taylor), (James) Perch and Cheick (Tiote).
"These two weeks are going to hopefully be good for some of the players to come back."
