UEFA Cup First Round/first leg: Bobby Robson has admitted Newcastle United badly need to beat Dutch side NAC Breda in the UEFA Cup to kick-start their season.
Newcastle, who are second from bottom of the Premiership after five games, face NAC at St James' Park tonight, having failed to progress beyond the qualifying stages of the Champions League last month.
Robson said his side "desperately need to win" at home for the first time this season.
"Victory should kick-start us," he said. "We know there has been a hullabaloo about our home record, but we are anxious to put that right.
"Victory would give us a lot of encouragement in terms of the Premiership. I know we haven't won in the league yet and that is a blow and we are determined to put it right.
"We're disconsolate about our start, but we have to stay calm, not panic and play for the full 90 minutes against NAC. Only the players and management can put it right. We'll all support each other. We must return to winning ways quickly and we have worked on specific aspects of our game that we feel need working on."
Robson will take comfort from the fact that his first victory as Newcastle manager, after taking over in 1999, came in the UEFA Cup against CSKA Sofia.
"The club has had a meteoric rise over the last four years and four years ago we would all have been delighted to be where we are, playing in Europe," said Robson, who had two managerial spells at Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
"Now people are a bit gloomy about it, but it's a good competition and we should be excited about it. We'll have to forget about not making the Champions League. We're over that disappointment and we need to look ahead and be very focused against NAC because I know we'll have a game on our hands.
"They did beat Ajax (Amsterdam) 4-2 at the weekend after all and that cannot be classed as an easy game.
"Breda are jumping up and down because they're in the UEFA Cup for the first time in 30 years. This for them is like a cup final, a dream for them. They're excited about it and we have to be the same. We have to be as up for the kill as they are."
Striker Craig Bellamy is also hoping to see his club return to winning ways tonight.
"I'm more determined to get Newcastle winning than thinking about my personal goals record because the club is far more important to me," Bellamy, who has not scored for his club since March, said yesterday.
"Four games without a home win is too long for a club like this. Scoring is a great feeling, but I want to concentrate on winning. Build-up and setting up goals mean a lot to me.
"This is a difficult spell, don't get me wrong, and you've got to expect a rough patch after the great times we've had. But with the players we've got I can't think it's going to be anything other than a short stay in our league position."
Robson said England centre half Jonathan Woodgate, who has just returned from injury, would not play.
