He side-stepped the banana skin and said Newcastle's players have "not been affected" by the controversy over the renaming of St James' Park.
Danny Simpson: "Whatever has gone on in the last week, the team will not be affected by it.
"It is not our responsibility - winning games is. We are still on the training pitch working as hard as ever.
"We are still working on what we are going to do at Manchester City at the weekend and we are still preparing for the games in the same way we normally would.
"We have really appreciated the way the supporters have helped us and responded to us this season.
"I am pretty sure come Saturday they will be behind us all the way and supporting the team."
THE TOON "Stocking Filler" BOOK FOR XMAS -
"MAGPIES IN EUROPE"
SIGNED COPY - FREE POST - FOR ANYONE WHO ORDERS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
Send a cheque for £9.95 - payable to K.Fletcher - to:
Magpies In Europe
5 Dunelm
Sacriston
Durham DH7 6NU
£9.99 Available From:
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
M&M News; 140 Northumberland St.
One Stop News; 44 Blackett St.
Blackwell Bookshop; 141 Percy St.
The Back Page; 56 St Andrews St.
Gallowgate News, Percy St.
CHESTER-LE-STREET
The Bookcase; 131 Front St
SPENNYMOOR
The Flower Shop, Front St.
ONLINE:
http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fListingClass=0&fSearch=Magpies+in+Europe
"Magpies In Europe" is available NOW! It features match reports and individual features from Toon fans on the 60 'away' trips Newcastle have made in Europe. Sports Journalist Richie Everson: "At last a book that the fabulous Newcastle United fans can relate to. It's informative, all the facts and figures are there, plus the 120 match reports from all the fixtures ... but it is the articles by the supporters that amazed me. "I went to many of those games, and this is the only book I can honestly say 'hits the nail on the head'! "Yes we know the results and the scorers, but some of the facts in this book had me so wrapped up in it I couldn't put it down. "Was Benny Arentoft cup-tied when he played in the final? Big Wyn and his battle with John McGrath; McFaul scoring a penalty when the crowd had gone home; the trouble in Palermo; it is all amazing stuff. "I would honestly give this book 10 out of 10." The book is available NOW from THE BACK PAGE!