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Chancel Content With Clean Sheet
Written by Newcastle Utd
Defender Chancel Mbemba spoke to nufc.co.uk after helping United keep a first clean sheet since August
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Chancel Mbemba was happy to play his part in Newcastle United's first clean sheet since August as Stoke City came to Tyneside this weekend, but the defender believes the Magpies should have been celebrating all three points and not just one.
United dominated large spells of their Barclays Premier League fixture against the Potters on Saturday but were unable to find a way past the visitors' outstanding goalkeeper Jack Butland, as the game finished in a stalemate.
Despite that frustration, the plus side was a stubborn rearguard display at the other end - recording a shut out for the first time since the trip to Old Trafford more than two months ago.
And Mbemba believes that will give he and his teammates plenty of heart as they head in to a crucial winter period.
"It's good for us as defenders but good for the whole team as well," the Congolese international centre-back told nufc.co.uk.
"Keeping a clean sheet gives everyone confidence that we're not going to concede goals too easily anymore.
"We need to take this forward now and try to keep more because if we do that then we are going to pick up points.
"Drawing (against Stoke) was tough. We have to accept the result as it is but we are not happy with it, obviously.
"We put in a great performance out there and made a lot of chances but just couldn't put any of them away, and that's what we need to work on. We definitely deserved to win the game, not draw.
"All the luck was on his (Butland's) side. He performed magnificently and kept out every chance we created.
"We tried hard and kept coming at him but he saved everything. We did the best we could against him."
And Mbemba had a final word for United's supporters who gave the side a great reception at the final whistle even though they had been unable to record the victory they deserved.
"I would like to thank the fans because - as always - they were 100 per cent behind us.
"We're close to being a good team and everyone can see that we don't deserve to be where we are in the division.
"Football involves a lot of hard work and you can see that we are putting that in. The football we are playing is very good, and we are working hard to get out of the relagation zone as quick as possible and up to where a club like this should be."