Steve Bruce remains confident his team still have what it takes to complete the task in hand in the Premier League - despite losing Callum Wilson until April.
Wilson joined Javier Manquillo and Fabian Schar in the treatment room this week after it was confirmed he had torn his hamstring and would be sidelined for a big chunk of games.
However, Bruce feels that even after Wilson was subbed on Saturday against Southampton, his players showed what will be needed to help keep the Magpies up this term.
Indeed, not only did Newcastle strengthen their grip when they were reduced to 10 men after Jeff Hendrick's red card, they also clung on for the win after Schar went off with a bad knee injury.
Bruce said: "The way we went about it, to score three goals in the first half, when have we ever done that? Not for a long time.
"The balance in the first half was something we got right.
"If every sums my tenure here up it's that two minutes after half-time.
"We could have been 4-1 up but unfortunately a minute it's 3-2 and we're down to 10 men!
"That's my tenure, the 18 months have been up and down to say the least!
"But I was delighted about their attitude, their application and the way they went about it.
"Their determination was pretty evident to hang on was there for everybody to see."
