Steven Taylor insists Newcastle United are aiming to prove their critics wrong with a successful season in the top flight. Many expected the Magpies to struggle they have taken 12 points from their opening six Premier League games.
"We were reading in the media that we haven't replaced Andy Carroll and we haven't got a new number nine yet and a lot of people were writing us off at the start of the season," said Taylor.
"I think that spurred us on a little bit.
"We knew the first game of the season against Arsenal was always going to be difficult but we proved a lot of people wrong there.
"We have got fantastic team spirit and determination in the squad and you need that."
Fans were frustrated by the club's failure to land a proven striker in the summer but Taylor believes his team's striking options are already strong.
"Demba Ba I think has got 10 goals in 14 [Premier League] starts and Leon Best has got nine in 14," he continued. "They have proven they can get the goals.
"Peter Lovenkrands scored two against Nottingham Forest [in the Carling Cup ] and he can't even get in the starting line-up."
