Momentum Could Prove Pivotal For Run-In

The collective Geordie groans could be heard far beyond the Angel of the North when Steve McClaren was appointed ‘Head Coach’ at Newcastle under the muffled promises of a fresh start and three window plan following the disaster that was last season.

The only folks blindly convinced of this were McClaren and the Newcastle board. The players weren’t and the fans certainly weren’t. Not many expected it to be quite as bad as it has turned out though.

For Newcastle to be sitting second from bottom with only three games remaining, far behind the likes of Bournemouth, West Brom and Watford is infuriatingly disappointing. That is nothing against those particular clubs by the way…they have proved themselves to be more effective in this division than we have this season and therefore deserve our respect.

The fact remains, however, that Newcastle is a club with far greater resources than those mentioned to be successful at this level and the mere fact we are lingering in the relegation zone speaks volumes of how so incompetently Newcastle have been conducted…until now.

Five points in the last three against sturdy opposition has given Newcastle much needed momentum and provided the fans…and players with a reasonable belief that Premiership survival is very much achievable.

Norwich and Sunderland may have a small advantage in terms of an extra point and game in hand but they don’t seem to be filled with the same optimism that Newcastle’s resurgence has given us.

Fans and pundits all over the country have been looking at the run in trying to predict what will happen and how many points will be needed to stay up. We are all hoping to win our next two against Palace and the Villa but they are not givens. There are no free wins in this league. No easy points. Just look at Spurs against West Brom. You would have put money on a Tottenham win there wouldn’t you?

Norwich and Sunderland could both beat Watford and Everton which would leave us needing to win all three once you factor in goal difference. On the other hand they both might not win another game; that is very possible. Newcastle have more confidence now than they have had at any point this season and Rafa is learning more about his players by the day. Hopefully that momentum will see us home. Come on the Toon!