SHOLA AMEOBI admitted he was devastated after losing to Patrick Viera's deflected winner on Wednesday.

But the Newcastle striker aims to bounce back from the disappointment by making Birmingham City, New Year's Day visitors to St James' Park, pay for what he feels was an unjustified defeat.

The loss means United have now gone seven games without a victory on Tyneside and leaves them lying perilously in 14th place in the Premiership, only seven points above the relegation zone.

"It's frustrating, obviously, with the winless run we're on, and especially to get beaten by a goal like that. It is devastating," said Ameobi.

"We've had most of the play, created a lot of the chances and dominated Arsenal, who are one of the best sides in Europe.

"But we have to take the positives out of the game and I think if we play like that every week we'll not have a problem climbing up the table. We've set a standard now and we've come out of the game knowing we should have got something out of it.

"The players don't like this little rut we're in and we're trying to give as much as we can to get out of it. We've got a depleted squad at the moment, which doesn't help, and Titus (Bramble) and I were struggling to play as we were half fit.

"It is frustrating but we have to look to the next game against Birmingham and hopefully give that sort of performance.

"I don't think we'll have any problem turning them over, especially being at home and if we play the way we did on Wednesday we have a great chance of starting the new year with three points."

Despite receiving a pain-killing injection to his shoulder before the Arsenal game, Ameobi fought through the pain barrier to give the sort of performance that would have had the southern press clamouring for an inclusion in Sven-Goran Errikson's next England squad had he played for a London club.

On several occasions the Nigerian-born striker's tantalising trickery and strength made a mockery of Sol Campbell's reputation as England's number one centre half and Ashley Cole's standing as the world's best left-back.

The 23-year-old modestly played down his own performance but added he did feel better for a run in the side.

He said: "With every game I'm feeling fitter and stronger. I needed games to get fit. After having four or five games I'm feeling the benefit of that.

"Hopefully I can carry this on into the next game and build on that, get a run in the team, score some goals and climb up the table."

Manager Graeme Souness believes his side have been unfortunate not to taste victory on several occasions this season, and while a team can suffer from adversity at times, defeat can't always be blamed on bad luck.

Souness, however, could claim with some justification to feel aggrieved at having a blatant penalty appeal turned down against Arsenal by referee Steve Bennett when Ashley Cole handled.

Souness also felt his side dominated the Premier League champions for the majority of the game.

Newcastle fans have vociferously let their side know how dissatisfied they have been with performances recently, but on Wednesday the Magpies left St James' Park to a rapturous applause.

"The fans are terrific," commented Ameobi. "In the bad patch we're having for the fans to do that was great. For the players it is great to know we have the support of the town.

"It is nice when the fans applaud you. We played well against Arsenal and dominated the game, and we've just been unlucky with the chances we have had and their deflected goal.

"They know we've given it all we've got and if we do that we shouldn't have a problem."

Souness once again tinkered with the shape of the Magpies and reverted to a 4-5-1 formation, which quickly changed to a 4-3-3 when playing on the break.

The tactics are regularly employed by Chelsea.

Considering how well Newcastle adapted to the change of formation it could well be the how the team lines up in the future.

United revealed an uncharacteristic maturity to their game against Arsenal in soaking up pressure before hitting the north London side with pace on the break.

If they learn how to harness their natural attacking instinct the Magpies might just rescue something from their season.

Ameobi ploughed a lone furrow up front with Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert in the wide positions. They tucked in when defending, but provided width when attacking.

Kieron Dyer was allowed to break forward to support the Newcastle striker, while Jermaine Jenas and Lee Bowyer sat in deeper midfield positions to protect the back four.

Ameobi said: "It worked very well for us and we were always in and around them, which you have to do against the likes of Arsenal. You always have to be in and around their feet and don't let them play.

"We pressed them both sides of half-time and created little half-chances, which on another day we could have converted.

"But it hasn't been the case, which is a shame because we've worked so hard and a little deflection won the game."

The Newcastle striker admitted he was still in a lot of pain after the Arsenal game and faces a race to be fit in time for Birmingham's visit tomorrow. But with skipper Alan Shearer available for this weekend's game the Newcastle boss could choose to give Ameobi a rest.

He added: "I ricked my shoulder joint against Blackburn and had an injection for the Arsenal game to try and settle it down.

"But I'm still in a lot of pain and I can't move my arm but hopefully it will settle down for our next game on Saturday."

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