Eddie Howe admits Newcastle United are edging towards new territory after tightening their grip on the top four in the Premier League.
The Magpies' Premier League ascent after 14 games means they will occupy a Champions League slot regardless of what happens in their next top-flight fixture against Chelsea. The Blues will certainly offer a genuine test of Newcastle's mettle but for now attention switches to the League Cup with Crystal Palace their obstacle in round three tonight.
In the build-up to the game Arsenal, invincible Patrick Vieira was the latest high-profile name to pour praise on Newcastle just days after Pep Guardiola had described United as contenders. Howe was wary of reading too much into the kind words - knowing that dealing with potential managerial mind games is a big part of life at the summit.
Howe reflected: "I wasn't necessarily saying mind games, I didn't know the context of what he'd (Pep Guardiola) said. "I did though make reference to it that the challenges we face will be different now.
"People will naturally try to build us up to maybe try to knock us down again. "We just have to stay away from that and focus on what we were doing."
Vieira had said: "Going to Newcastle, with the way they are playing at the moment, makes it even more difficult."
United drew 0-0 with Palace earlier in the season on a day in which they had a good goal chalked off after Tyrick Mitchell put the ball in his own net. Newcastle created 23 goal attempts that afternoon without finding a breakthrough.
When asked about Palace's threat, Howe said: "They are a very well coached team. They consistently play out from the back have very dangerous players in forward areas. Patrick has done a good job with the team."
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