 KEVIN NOLAN has called for Newcastle United to raise the bar even higher ahead of tomorrow’s big clash with Middlesbrough. The Scouser admits that the Magpies have become accustomed to stepping up to the plate in every game in the Coca-Cola Championship this season so far, with every rival team eyeing a scalp. And the Toon star – who is braced to captain the Mags on Teesside – feels that struggling Boro will be desperate to salvage some pride to prevent their season plumbing new depths. Nolan made his debut for United in last season’s Tyne-Wear derby and, regardless of whether fans class tomorrow’s encounter as a derby or not, the influential midfielder knows that losing just isn’t an option from a Toon point of view. And, reflecting on his baptism of fire last season in the derby with Sunderland and looking ahead to taking on Boro, Nolan told the Chronicle: “We’ve had to be up for every game this season, but it does add a bit of extra spice with them only being down the road. “My debut was against Sunderland so I have a good idea what this will be like away from home. “You could tell that was a derby day – it was massive – but I’m sure Newcastle fans will still want us to win just as much, as there would be a lot of Middlesbrough fans who would be very happy if they came out on top. We have got to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Nolan is looking forward to attempting to pull off victory in front of the 3,600 Geordie fans on Teesside and while he hasn’t been short on advice during the build-up this week from Tyneside folk, he’s bumped into, he knows that Newcastle expects. He says: “I know the fans don’t call it the main derby, or not a derby at all, but it’s going to be played like a derby, there’s not a doubt about that. “We’ve just got to make sure we apply ourselves, and hopefully we’ll come out on top, like we did at St James’. “When you speak to a lot of the Newcastle fans, they don’t see it as a derby, but it’s plastered all over the papers that it is a Tyne-Tees derby. “I’m not really up with it, as I’ve only been here a year, but we’re going to take it as if it’s going to be another tough game. “Middlesbrough have been doing well of late at home.” | 
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