Steven Taylor says Newcastle are laughing all the way back to the Premier League - because training ground divisions have been banned.The defender reckons he has never enjoyed a season so much, because bickering and boasting is out, and bonding is in at St James’ Park.Taylor believes Newcastle will be tough to catch after racking up a fourth consecutive win against Preston on Monday, and has revealed the atmosphere has been transformed from the grim days of a year ago.He said: “I’m loving it. It’s just a totally different mood about the place. We’re going into training now and having a right good laugh. We know when we have to be serious, but we also know that it’s good to have a joke as a group of lads. if (typeof ord == 'undefined') { ord = Math.random() * 10000000000000000; } document.write(''); if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Gecko") == -1) { document.write('<script language="JavaScript" src="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/mirrorfootball.4240/news_mpu_article_300x250;tile=9;zone=news;sect=;templ=article;oid=231451;sz=300x250;abr=!ie;ord=' + ord + '?" type="text/javascript"><\/script>'); } document.write(''); <a href="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/jump/mirrorfootball.4240/news_mpu_article_300x250_300x250;zone=news;sect=;templ=article;oid=231451;tile=9;sz=300x250;ord=123456789?" target="_blank"><img class=" azawzkwlimkwqrknpedv" src="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/ad/mirrorfootball.4240/news_mpu_article_300x250;zone=news;sect=;templ=article;oid=231451;tile=9;sz=300x250;ord=123456789?" alt="" border="0" height="250" width="300"></a> “The banter is absolutely fantastic on the training ground, and it hasn’t always been like that in the time I’ve been at Newcastle.“We’re all mingling in together as a group, and we know how to take each other, whereas a few years ago you might have got some people forming their own little groups.“There’s none of that now - everyone’s together and everyone gets involved. I just wish the public could see what we were like on the inside of the dressing room now because I think it’s something to be proud of.“We’re loving it, and it’s a real honour for me to be playing with this group of lads. I feel really lucky.“As team-mates, we know we’re going to back each other up. Last season, I’m not sure we had that as much. But I think now, with this squad, there’s a real sense of spirit.“The coaches have been absolutely fantastic in terms of keeping it together because it has been difficult for everybody. But now we know we have a manager in Chris [Hughton] and it’s all settled. That’s what we want. We’re looking after ourselves and Chris is doing a great job.”Despite being top and six points clear of third, Newcastle have yet to hit top form and lack a consistent goalscorer, apart from Kevin Nolan who is turning into a major force in this promotion push.The hiccup of defeats at Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest last month has been forgotten. Taylor added: “Questions were asked when we lost at Blackpool and Scunthorpe, but I think we’ve answered them fairly convincingly. We’re a different side this year - we’re more together. We have to stick together in this league because it’s tough.“Teams are going to keep coming and throwing everything at us, but I think we’ve shown we can handle that. We can pass the ball, but we can also do the dirty side of things as well.”Taylor has forged a solid partnership with Argentina international Fabricio Coloccini who has showed some composed form at the back after last season’s difficult start in England.Taylor said: “It’s nice that there hasn’t really been the chopping and changing in defence this season. I feel like I’ve got a decent understanding with Fabricio now and long may that continue. We work well together in training, and I think that shows on the pitch.“Hopefully, we can continue to build on that.”
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