Steve Harper says Newcastle United's players are crying out for stability.

The goalkeeper told The Times: "There doesn't seem to be any middle ground - you are either at the top of the slope or at the bottom of the dip and we need to aim for the middle ground for a bit.

"This season, the circumstances have been different, but you get the feeling it's all happened before. When things pick up, there's a built-in self-destruct button.

"It needs eradicating, but I wake up every morning and tell myself, 'When this place is right, it'll take off'.

"I have seen it all here. It's a special place with special fans. We've got to stay up and then start again.

"Stability and Newcastle aren't words that go together, but it's what we're crying out for."