Steve Bruce believes Newcastle United's club spirit can't be faulted as his side continue their year on year improvement.
The Magpies find themselves four points better off than they were at the same stage last year with a decent cushion above the relegation zone starting to emerge thanks to the 2-2 draw with Manchester City .
United fought hard for their point against Pep Guardiola's men and twice came back from behind at St James' Park with Jetro Willems and Jonjo Shelvey grabbing equalisers.
When asked about the spirit around the place, Bruce said: "Well, I think that's the most important thing for me in a football club when you walk through the door, is to try to create a spirit where everybody, not just the players, everybody wants to come to work.
"It's an environment which I try to improve on if I can.
"As I said, we're all in it from the girls who wash the kit to the players, to the staff, to the groundsman, it's a big, big team effort.
"It's a good place to come and work at the minute."
Newcastle fans faced taunts from Man City followers with questions about the lack of the "famous atmosphere" on Tyneside.
But Bruce said: "It would have been nice to get a kick of the ball, that would have given them something to shout about!
"They were terrific in the end.
"They've witnessed two great goals, and I think what they've witnessed is their team rolling up their sleeves and showing a bit of determination and from here, that's all you have to do.
"They'll get behind you, and they certainly were that.
"Towards the end, they were great in the way they got behind the team."
