KARL DARLOW has said ‘don’t call me a hero’ for saving a penalty that could end up keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League in a fortnight’s time, and warned nothing has been achieved yet in the fight to stay up.

Darlow’s strong save from Yohan Cabaye’s spot-kick with 18 minutes remaining preserved a lead secured by Andros Townsend’s stunning free-kick just before the hour. The victory, coupled with poorer results for Sunderland and Norwich City, over Crystal Palace has lifted the Magpies out of the bottom three.

That save capped a superb overall performance from Darlow, who regularly made the right decision to punch or gather and made a number of other saves to earn the recognition of the Gallowgate fans who chanted his name.

But third-choice Darlow, only playing because of injuries to Tim Krul and Rob Elliot, does not want to reflect for too long on his own heroics between the posts because of what is still to play for in the remaining two matches against Aston Villa and Tottenham.

Asked if he felt like a hero? Darlow said: “No I don't! Not at all. There is a long way to go, three points was the main objective and Andros' goal was unbelievable, and that keeps us going for the rest of the season.

“In football you have different moments in your career that you remember and that will definitely be one of them if it keeps us in the division.”

Darlow’s intervention, coupled with some dogged and determined defending to prevent Palace from equalising, ensured Newcastle are now four matches unbeaten; collecting eight points from the last 12 available to boost the chances of survival.

“The Manchester City game was huge for us,” said Darlow. “Coming against such a big team it gave us a big boost and then going away to Anfield and being two down, and given absolutely no chance of fighting back again, shows there is belief and a lot of characters in this team.

“We need to keep stepping out on to the pitch and keep doing that for the rest of the season.

“It feels good to be out of the bottom three for now. But the only important thing is being there at the end of the season. That is the end goal. We need to make sure this club stays in the division. We have put ourselves in with a great chance and we can salvage something and stay in this league.”

Darlow’s confident approach typified what has been happening across the back four in recent weeks, with the defence in front of him growing in stature and resilience under Rafael Benitez.

His former Nottingham Forest team-mate Jamaal Lascelles epitomises that, with his hunger to make last ditch challenges and he made a stunning one to deny Connor Wickham from shooting in the first half.

Darlow said: “It was unbelievable. The whole defence was very good again. We look stable. That was a big moment for us. Jamaal has been excellent since he stepped into the team and we need leaders.

“We need people that not many thought would come through this season to do something. Hopefully we can play our part to the end and keep this club up.”

Darlow’s performances are certainly doing that, even if it meant having to make a penalty stop to thwart former Newcastle midfielder Cabaye from scoring in front of the Gallowgate.

He said: “There wasn't much going through my mind. It was one of those where I had just picked the way to go and then dived hard and then reacted to the ball.

“Hopefully I went the right way, the ball was there and I made the save. It was a good moment for me and those three points could be massive come the end of the season.

“We look through everyone's penalties before we play them and we do our research and Cabaye had put his last four or five the other way. It was one of them that was just instinct.

“I just had a funny feeling he might go that side. I just dived that way and dived hard and thankfully saved it. At the end of the day it was one of those moments that could keep us in the division. Fingers crossed we can get two more good results and stay up.”

It was claimed in France over the weekend, meanwhile, Newcastle made a 10m euros January move for Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra.

There is also renewed interest in Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse from clubs in China.