Tony Mowbray: "We have found the Premier League tough. I could ask the question whether it is a level playing field.
Are Newcastle Playing On A 'Level Playing Field'?
Tony Mowbray: "We have found the Premier League tough. I could ask the question whether it is a level playing field.
"I know we shouldn't get judged as if it is a level playing field and in my own mind we are playing Bolton who have got a near £10million centre-forward (Elmander) playing against us.
"Then you have Kevin Davies who has damaged the Premier League for a few years with his physicality and his strength.
"We are a team who have come up into the Premier League. Yes, we have spent a few quid, but we have never spent £10million on a footballer.
"So every week, whether it is Bolton or Manchester United or the rest, you are facing, you are playing against some pretty high-quality players that cost a lot of money.
"I don't take it too hard or too personally, but I don't think it is a level playing field and I am proud of the team when they perform like they did against Bolton.
"They were facing a team with more experience, are more expensive and, at times, are better players than ours - and yet I don't see the gulf on the pitch.
"It is all about very fine margins. Ultimately you get judged on the league table and the results and yet all season we have felt the fine margin between winning and losing has fallen the wrong side of the coin for us."