Newcastle United’s Diame hopes for winning run after tough opening fixtures

After an unenviable start to the season having played four of the top six teams in the English Premier League, Mohamed Diame hopes Newcastle United kickstart a positive run with their next fixture against Crystal Palace.

Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Arsenal meant the Magpies have lost four of their opening 2018-19 top-flight games, with only a point against Cardiff City in the bag, and they languish in the bottom three.

Rafa Benitez and his men had the toughest possible welcome to a new campaign with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Manchester City and the Gunners all lined up for them - and never scaled those hurdles.

However, with a breath of fresh air in the mould of a visit to Selhurst Park to try Roy Hodgson’s men for size next Saturday, the Senegal midfielder is eyeing that first win that would hopefully ‘start that runoff’ for his 19th-placed team.

“The season has already started, we can’t forget about the games we have had,” Diame, as per Chronicle Live, said.

“But we have to keep believing in what we are doing and trying to win games because that is why we are here. We need to work harder, score more and concede less - it’s simple.

“I am not worried; I have spoken with the manager about the situation, because we are playing exactly like we were last year.

“We had these big games in the beginning and we knew they were coming. Now, these games are over we are going to go into these next games and try to get that first win.

“We are playing the same way as last season. People keep saying about how we are defending more, but we played exactly the same way against Man City last year when we faced the likes of Chelsea and Man City.

“We had our way to play, now these games are over and we have attack the next games. We have played Arsenal, we will play Man United soon, we will keep going.

“Palace is a massively important game. We have to start winning games, and it is going to be a good game to start that runoff.”

After Palace, Newcastle face Leicester City, another tough test against Manchester United before clashes with Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton.