Newcastle United caretaker coach Chris Hughton has urged fans to stand by the players.

"They've been excellent this season and we're going to need them with us until the end of the season," he said.

"It doesn't surprise me that the supporters were so good last weekend. The atmosphere was excellent against Arsenal, but it has been since I've been here.

"It's a vocal crowd, it's a passionate crowd and a support that gets behind the team. Even in the difficult periods they get behind the team and that's something that we appreciate.

"It's something that we're going to need until the end of the season. We've got some big home games and those games have become even bigger because of the situation we're in. We're going to need them as vocal and as passionate as they can be."