By Nick Raynor
August 9 2006

Newcastle United and Australia defender Craig Moore has stated that now pre-season is over, it must get serious now.

Newcastle started off with a competitive game against Lillestrom in the Intertoto Cup and then played friendlies against Norwich, PSV Eindhoven and Villarreal; winning one, losing one and drawing the other.

 

And Moore has called for a good result tomorrow night in Latvia, as the friendlies are over and every game for Newcastle is now competitive.

 

Moore said:

 

"We have learned a lot from the pre-season matches.

 

"It has been a strange summer, starting with the competitive matches against Lillestrom, then playing the friendly matches.

 

"But we always knew that was going to be the case, and in terms of match fitness I think we're all in good shape now.

 

“ We have played quality opposition in the last two matches against PSV Eindhoven and Villarreal, and we have picked up a lot from them.

 

"We know what we have to improve on, and we also take some positives from those two games."

 

The former Rangers defender added: "But the serious stuff starts now, with the game in Latvia tomorrow evening.

 

"We want to go out there and get a good result, and there's no reason why we can't do that.

 

"We know we need a win, and it doesn't make much difference in my opinion that the first leg is away from home.

 

"Sometimes you can look at that as an advantage, but in this case I don't think it matters.

 

"We need to win the game, regardless of where it is, so the aim tomorrow will be to go out there and do a professional job, get a decent result, and finish it off at our place.

 

"We worked hard last season to give ourselves a chance of getting into the UEFA Cup, and we know what is required now."