Parker: Loss Was Harsh

By Nick Raynor
February 26 2007

Newcastle United captain Scott Parker has stated he does not believe that Newcastle deserved to lose 1-0 to Wigan on Sunday.

Parker also gave some support to team-mate Noberto Solano who missed from the penalty spot 13 minutes before Wigan scored.

Newcastle are unpredictable from week to week at the moment, with a fantastic 2-1 win against Liverpool, but then a loss to Wigan, no-one really knows what Newcastle will do from game to game.

But Parker insists the team did not deserve to lose and will bounce back for the Middlesbrough game.

Parker said:

"We definitely deserved something out of this game. If not the win, then certainly a draw.

You look at the game and Wigan probably did not create a lot of chances but they hit a great goal.

"But we missed the penalty and had another couple of chances which really we should have put away.

"We all know Nobby Solano's quality and we were expecting him to score from the penalty spot , but these things happen.

"Nobby's brave enough to step up there but obviously sometimes players miss them, and unfortunately today that was the case.

"It was difficult in the second half because Wigan are fighting for their lives and they made it hard for us.

"We have to pick ourselves up ahead of Middlesbrough, and we have been good at bouncing back this season after bad results.

"We have been on a decent run and today was a little blip, but I'm sure we can turn that around next weekend."