STEVEN Taylor believes Newcastle United have a new-found ruthlessness, which is helping them finally prove the critics wrong with a revival that has seen them lose just two games in their last 12.

After plumbing the depths following a 1-0 home defeat against Sheffield United on November 4, which saw Glenn Roeder's side drop to second-bottom, the Magpies have only been beaten by champions Chelsea.

They are now just three points behind seventh-placed Tottenham after a 3-1 win over the north Londoners on Saturday, and Taylor can think of no better way of silencing those he sees as delighting in "slagging off" the Magpies.

"When you read in the papers and see people on the telly slagging you off and saying you're going to get relegated, the best thing is to prove them wrong with performances," said Taylor, whose flourishing central defensive partnership with Peter Ramage will be thoroughly tested at Bolton today.

"We've certainly shut a few people up. Long may that continue.

"We've proved people wrong and we're happy with the way things are going

"The performances have been fantastic and the side is believing in each other like never before. There's more confidence as well than at the start of the season.

"Bolton will see a different Newcastle from the team they beat here. We're ruthless at the moment. We've played against some of the best teams and been fantastic so there's no reason why we can't go down there and give them a hell of a game.

"Ruthless isn't a word you would always associate with Newcastle teams, but our football is now doing our talking."

Despite Newcastle apparently turning their season around, one consistent factor has been their ability to pick up fresh injuries in almost every game they play.

They go to the Reebok Stadium today with Shay Given a doubt after being forced to leave the field on Saturday with a groin injury.

With Steve Harper still a few weeks away following his double hernia operation, Pavel Srnicek is on standby to make his first start for the Magpies since October 25, 1997 - a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers.

Before his five-minute cameo late on Saturday, Srnicek's last Premiership appearance was back in January 2004 for Portsmouth, but Roeder has no fears about putting the Czech-born 38-year-old in from the start.

"Pavel has not been round the block once but several times. He'll pick it up very quickly, he's got no nerves, so I've no problem calling on him," said Roeder, who has also recalled Tim Krul from a break back in Holland.

"When the ball needed to be taken (against Spurs) he took it quickly and used it well. He's got the experience that will give young players a lot of confidence.

"But I'm not ruling Shay out. He's a very tough person and he didn't want to come off. I have to make those decisions for us.

"He's a warrior and warriors never give in. You have to make decisions for them."

With a likely bombardment of Newcastle's penalty box today from a direct Trotters side, Roeder will be reassured to have a central defensive partnership of Taylor and Peter Ramage if he is forced to start with Srnicek.

Despite boasting a combined aged of only 43, they have formed an impressive pairing and Taylor knows only too well they could be in for their toughest test yet at the Reebok.

"We've played against the best strikers like Drogba, Shevckenko, Berbatov, all of them fantastic forwards.

"But we've shown together that we can perform against anyone," said Taylor, who made his first Newcastle start at Bolton in March 2004.

"We're mates in defence so whether it's against Anelka or anyone it doesn't matter who we play against.

"A lot of people say, the bigger they are the harder they fall. We've just got to keep playing the football we can.

"Bolton will be a physical side, but there's no reason we can't go and take the game to them.

"That's one thing we do - we play for each other. No-one is looking after No 1."

Taylor believes the arrival of Nigel Pearson to the Newcastle coaching staff has helped all the defenders, with both Pearson and Roeder helping point out both the strengths and weaknesses in their games.

"They're always trying to get messages across, communicating with us, telling us what needs to be done," said Taylor, who again impressed in front of the watching England coach Steve McClaren on Saturday.

"They were two top quality centre halves themselves and it's brilliant on the training ground because they work with us day in day out, one on one and looking at past games, seeing what we've done right and where we've gone wrong.

"It's fantastic. They've done loads of individual work with us. It does help me and Peter Ramage and Paul Huntington."