Jimmy Gopperth urges Newcastle Falcons patience

Gopperth has been the leading Premiership points scorer in each of the last two seasons

Newcastle Falcons fly-half Jimmy Gopperth has called for supporters to show patience with Alan Tait's new-look squad at Kingston Park.

Falcons have lost their opening two games against Bath and Exeter in the Premiership, with five of the club's summer arrivals making their debuts.

"Too many people go on about previous years, but it's a new team," Gopperth told BBC Newcastle.

"When it clicks we'll be away. Once we get the first win it will snowball."

Newcastle are in the midst of their worst ever run of results in the Premiership with nine consecutive defeats.

"We haven't had the results, but we've got some great players, we've got a great group of lads," Gopperth added.

Among the new faces to arrive on Tyneside were the South African duo of Greg Goosen and Ashley Wells, Jamie Helleur, Taisina Tu'ifua and Jordi Pasqualin.

The 28-year-old half-back was a key points contributor for the Falcons from his number 10 berth last season, picking up the Premiership golden boot for a second year running with a haul of 230 points in 19 games.

And the former Blues stand-off has continued in a similar vein this term, accounting for 14 of the club's 26 points via his right boot.

"You can say any first-five-eighth [has pressure], look at the World Cup and the Premiership, everything revolves around the fly-half," Gopperth said.

"We're working on plays, and it's good to see James Fitzpatrick and Luke Eves have a good game last week [at centre], it gives us a bit of good forward and we can attack off the back of that.

"People are going to make the breakdown a dogfight, and the boys are working hard on making sure we clean pass the ball, get good delivery for the scrum-half so they can release the backs and attack some good lines out wise."