Eddie Howe has warned his players that the euphoria of beating Aston Villa is now behind them ahead of their tough trip to relegation-haunted Southampton.
The Magpies face a Saints team who are fourth bottom in the table and have managed just one win in eight matches. And United actually go into an away game as the favourites with the bookies - something unthinkable in recent years.
For all that, Howe knows that few teams are relishing playing against his Toon side at the moment. Howe said: "That's our ideal, really. "You want teams to not look forward to playing you – I think there's a problem if it's the other way around."
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Speaking about the feel-good factor after Villa, Howe said: "That's history, that game is now gone, so it's about making sure that the opposition next week feel the same way and that's all down to our preparation."
Howe is hoping his team can sign off for the World Cup break in unbeaten style and in another big week they will face the Saints, Palace in the cup and then Chelsea before the tournament starts.
Howe knows his team have room for improvement, he said: "I think there's loads of improvement - I have to say that. If I'm sat here going, 'That's us', the only way from there is down.
"The only way for me to look at any team in any moment is the only way is up. We have more to drive from the players, we've got lots of improvement left in individuals and the team collectively."
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