An 11-match unbeaten run at the start of the season had put Newcastle on course for a top-four Premier League challenge which many thought unlikely after a quiet summer in the transfer market. However, the Magpies have now taken just one point from their last four games to drop to seventh in the table and Saturday's defeat at newly-promoted Norwich was an unwelcome reminder that they still have a lot to do to prove capable of challenging for European qualification. Without captain Steven Taylor, who has been ruled out for the season with an Achilles injury, Newcastle looked vulnerable at the back at Carrow Road and there are also doubts about the club's strength in depth in other areas. But Ba, who took his tally for the season to 11 with a brace on Saturday, insists Alan Pardew's side will not plummet down the table. "We're not going to let that happen," the striker said. "I'm pretty sure next week we're going to win. "We'll do everything to win the game because we need a win. We have the squad here to cope. "We have (Mike) Williamson, who's on his way back from injury, (Fabricio) Coloccini is hopefully going to be fit for next week as well and (Cheik) Tiote too, so if we have our full squad I think we'll be okay." James Perch and Danny Simpson struggled to handle the physical presence of Grant Holt and Steve Morison, with slack marking contributing to all four of the home side's goals. And Ba admits the Magpies missed their first-choice centre-half pairing. "It was difficult for Danny Simpson to compete against Holt or against Morison," Ba said. "If we had our centre-backs, who are big, muscular and can head the ball, it would have been different. We were playing with a brand new defence and it was very difficult." Wes Hoolahan put Norwich ahead from close range before Holt's header made it 2-1 after Ba had equalised in first-half injury-time. The Senegalese added his second to make it 3-2 after Morison had scored Norwich's third before skipper Holt headed home to seal the win eight minutes from time. Despite starting just six of Norwich's 15 Premier League games, Holt has six goals to his name; an achievement many would have thought impossible for a journeyman striker expected to struggle in the top flight. Indeed, it seemed even more implausible when Holt was making his living by fitting tyres. "That was 11 years ago," he said. "I have churned out a good career since. "I am very lucky, I think a lot of us realise we are very lucky to be picked for a position like we are in. "Two years ago Steve Morison was playing non-league and now he is scoring goals in the Premier League for fun. "What we have got here is a lot of lads who have had setbacks. They have been at bigger clubs and want to go back up. I think when you get that belief and desire in the squad, it makes you think you don't want to be here just to make up the numbers." Norwich manager Paul Lambert had nothing but praise for Holt, who has had nine clubs in his career. "It's a terrific rise for what he's been through," Lambert said. "I think he's played in every league. It's the same with Morison. It's just phenomenal the way those two lads are doing it."
