Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson insists the players care about the club.

Williamson says he and his team-mates will be giving their all to try and silence the critics and make up for the damaging defeat to Sunderland which came courtesy of Jermain Defoe's wonder strike.

He said: "We have to go out there and face it. We aren't going to get any outside help and the lads know that. That's why we have to come together and stay together.

"We have to make sure everyone is working in the right direction and we all buy into it. And we all make sure we do our bit individually so collectively we can move forward.

"It's about character and making sure we get back to basics. The only people that can get us out of this are ourselves.

"It's down to us to respond and put the work in on the training ground then execute it at the weekend."