There are just 10 games remaining for Newcastle United to pull themselves out of the relegation zone and retain their Premier League status.
Though they only managed to secure survival on the very last day of last season, the current campaign is far more disappointing due to the hefty player investment across the last two windows.
It’s currently unclear whether manager Steve McClaren will continue in his role for much longer, though what is painfully evident is the fact the Tynesiders face a defining couple of months. If they slip out of the top flight, the utter lack of characters within their ranks could see the Magpies tumble down the leagues at an alarming rate.
A scary thought for all those involved with the North East giants, though they are currently just a single point off fierce rivals Sunderland with so much still to play for.
Whoever ends up in charge, they will face 10 cup finals. A cliche perhaps, but the sentiment rings true around the corridors of St. James’ Park.
Upon closer examination, the relegation run in does offer some winnable games for the club. It’s just the fact that very little of what this expensively assembled side have shown so far provides any sort of hope for disgruntled fans.
Suggesting that the team should make their home a fortress may be a touch too radical after just a torrid campaign. Still, there are some favourable fixtures coming up at home.
Due to their absolutely comical away form, it may just be their performances on home soil that keep them in the Premier League.
With all this in mind, here are FIVE fixtures that will make or break Newcastle United’s survival chances.
SUNDERLAND (HOME) 20TH MARCH
The Tyne-Wear derby is always one of the showpieces of the season, despite the fact both contestants are usually towards the bottom of the league.
In recent campaigns it’s a fixture that has been dominated with Sunderland victories. Particularly at St. James’ Park. Particularly by a scoreline of 3-0.
Put simply, if the Toon lose this game, it’s hard to see them staying up. A win over their arch rivals can lift the beleaguered Magpies in both a mathematical and a symbolic sense.
To finally put an end to some many dismal derby day defeats could spark the momentum required to stave off the drop.
Yet another loss would only add to the feeling of discontent currently engulfing the club.
NORWICH (AWAY) 2ND APRIL
A series of comical away days is one of the major reasons as to why Newcastle find themselves in the position they are in. There have been just two victories on the road this season amid a plethora of capitulations.
A trip to East Anglia as April begins in earnest will be crucial. While many think the last relegation spot is reserved for one of the Toon or Sunderland, it is important not to write Norwich off.
Should the Canaries condemn their visitors to yet another away defeat, they could feasibly leapfrog them and battle the Black Cats for the last spot in next year’s Premier League.
Still, Alex Neil’s men conceded SIX goals to a Newcastle team struggling at all to score. Surely, the faltering frontline will be relishing the notion of lining up against Norwich once more.
SWANSEA (HOME) 16TH APRIL
When Swansea sacked Garry Monk and then sold Jonjo Shelvey to the Magpies, they looked to be heading into free fall.
However, their decisive action to sack Monk looks to have paid off, though it may have been a tad harsh and there was some dithering in appointing Francesco Guidolin.
Still, the Swans afforded themselves enough to time to make a change and now look likely to stay in the Premier League as a result.
When they travel to the North East in mid-April, they can show decision makers at the Toon exactly what they should have done.
Whether McClaren loses his job soon or not, the mere fact he has been in it so long is laughable. With so little of the season left, the club have brought such nervy times on themselves.
For the Magpies, it’s another home time in which they could feasibly earn all three points.
CRYSTAL PALACE (HOME) 30TH APRIL
April ends with the visit of Alan Pardew and his struggling Crystal Palace side to St. James’ Park. Earlier in the season, the Toon were humbled 5-1 by their former boss, though the Eagles have lost any trace of form since.
For many, it would poetic justice to see Pardew relegate the club at which he endured a turbulent relationship with a win at a stadium where he was so often booed.
However, the 54-year old has barely covered himself in glory over the last few months and the clash represents an ideal opportunity for Newcastle to scramble together as many points as possible.
ASTON VILLA (AWAY) 7TH MAY
When Newcastle last played Aston Villa, they were on their best run of the season after two successive wins over Liverpool and Spurs.
During the game at St. James’ Park, the home side missed a series of chances and were frustrated all the way to a 1-1 draw. That particular result takes on a certain level of poignance now. For since then, they’ve struggled to string together any sort of momentum.
Villa are currently the only side worse off than Newcastle, though only Manchester City invested more over the summer. They look dead and buried and heading for the Championship.
In order to have any hope of not joining the Midlands outfit in that regard, the Magpies simply have to win at Villa Park on the penultimate game of the season.
It was the scene of their last relegation under the stewardship of Alan Shearer, a desperate reminder of their continued struggles.
