Do you think Newcastle will avoid the drop? Vote now!

The business end of the season is fast approaching and it's fair to say that our Premier League future is far from secure as we stand.

Would I go as far to say that we are in a relegation fight? No, not yet, but whilst the gap between us and the bottom three teams remains so slim there is always a chance of being dragged into it.

Newcastle have just come through a real tough patch of games where they have played teams that will likely end up in the top six at the end of the season in five of the last ten league matches. To be fair we haven't come through that run of games too badly, but it could have been much better had we managed to hang on to those leads against Tottenham and Sunderland.

On the whole, the performances have been of a high standard and the team are still fighting, which is a major difference from the side that we had when we were relegated two years ago. Chances are still being created and our defence looks sound, and we still have players like Hatem Ben Arfa and Stephen Ireland to come back into the team.

Newcastle currently have 32 points, but with three home games coming up in the next five fixtures I would like to think that we will add to that haul sooner rather later. If we can win all three homes, which will be a tough ask in the Premier League, then I would say that we are pretty much safe.

It's not just about us though as other teams have to win games to catch up with us. Five points may not sound a lot, but it still takes quite a lot to claw that difference back when a team is stuck near the foot of the table, especially when you see the games that some of the teams down there have left to play.

It's imperative that Newcastle grab a win at the earliest opportunity. Grabbing all three points at St Andrews tomorrow evening would be a start and would go quite a way to securing Premier League football for another year, but even a point would keep us ticking over in my opinion.

I think nine points could do it, whether that be three wins, two wins and three draws, one win and six draws or whatever. It doesn't matter how the points are gained, it only matters that we have gained them.

So come on then, let us know how you feel!

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