Newcastle Knockout - time to face the inevitable

On a day where Anthony Joshua battles to become IBF World Champion and Newcastle should have been fighting for their Premiership lives, The Magpies simply threw the towel in on what has been a season well and truly on the ropes.

Southampton were a class above a desperately beleaguered Newcastle side who were never in the contest after gifting their hosts an early lead. Newcastle left huge gaps in their defence and were unable to hurt Southampton in the early stages and only really ever landed one telling blow in Townsend’s left pile driver. With Newcastle already well behind it was nothing more than a momentary glimpse of attacking prowess. It certainly couldn’t provide a Rocky Balboa style win against the odds.

All hopes of survival now seem to be lost as Newcastle now only have six games remaining to get out of this mess. The damage was already done well before Rafa Benitez was appointed but even his arrival seems to have added nothing to Newcastle’s hopeless cause. This performance was no better than anything under McClaren, Carver or Pardew and realistically Newcastle are simply on their knees waiting to be counted out as they fall way behind on points.

Never mind Rocky, Newcastle need a miracle to stay up. It is still possible of course but on this evidence it is hard to see anything other than relegation. As 33/1 Rule The World won the National, Newcastle are odds on to be playing in the Championship next season unless something drastic happens.

P.S. A thought for those 1700 Newcastle fans who made a 660 mile round trip to that shambles and back. Newcastle didn’t deserve anything from the game…you did!