THE message from the Newcastle dressing room after Saturday’s drab loss to Sheffield Wednesday is crystal clear: now is not the time to start panicking.

With the destination of the Championship title up for grabs – and with Brighton now favourites to win the league – Jonjo Shelvey and Mohamed Diame have called for calm heads.

Shelvey – who had a storming match in South Yorkshire – is desperate to get back out there and get stuck into another scrap with Leeds on Good Friday.

He said: “We lost but this is no time for panicky actions. We're still ten points ahead of Huddersfield and we just have to keep going.

“The games have been coming thick and fast for us, but we now have a few days to get our planning and ideas together.

“Next Friday is a big game against Leeds and we're looking forward to it. The atmosphere was booming down at Elland Road and it will be at our place.”

Diame backed up his team-mate and believes there is absolutely no cause for alarm as the season enters its most critical and crucial stage.

He said: "It's a massive disappointment. We had a big opportunity to get back at the top of the league, and it was a big disappointment for everyone.

“The fans and everyone at the club have to stay calm. We're going to give everything to win this league and go up.

“This is the last race and we have to give everything in every match that is left. We have a long week for recovery before a massive game at home next Friday.

“But we mustn't forget that we are in a very good position still.”

Shelvey was the only Newcastle player to show any strength or sparkle on a bad day at the office for Rafa Benitez’s men.

Newcastle started slowly and sluggishly and never looked like going, especially during a first half that was their weakest showing for quite some time.

The only high spot in the first half was a Shelvey effort from inside his own half that stunned the entire crowd – and nearly caught Keiren Westwood out.

Shelvey’s effort hit the crossbar and bounced away to safety and he lamented the fact the greatest goal of his career was denied by the thickness of the woodwork.

The midfielder said: “I was looking at their keeper and he came off his line quite a few times. When I got enough space I thought I'd try it. I've done it before and scored a few.

“Unfortunately, not this time - it beat the keeper but hit the bar.

“We had enough chances to get something. Wednesday had a lot of control in the first half but we were still in the game at the break, and I thought we did enough to get a result after that.”