Five straight losses and a media spotlight. Can Newcastle escape the bottom three with a tough schedule ahead?
Newcastle United have lost nine of their last twelve games and have gone five successive games losing in all competitions. It is a record that has got many in the media asking Eddie Howe if he is looking over his shoulder rather than looking forward and if European football is possible. As it stands, Newcastle are eight points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go.
Will Newcastle win another game? Do Newcastle survive due to the inability of those teams below them to gain points? Let’s look at the remaining fixtures and games.
14th - Newcastle United - 42 Points
Nottingham Forest (a)
West Ham United (H)
Fulham (a)
15th - Leeds United - 40 Points
Burnley (H)
Tottenham Hotspur (a)
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
West Ham United (a)
16th - Nottingham Forest - 39 Points
Chelsea (a)
Newcastle United (H)
AFC Bournemouth (H)
17th - West Ham United - 36 Points
Brentford (a)
Arsenal (H)
Newcastle United (a)
Leeds United (H)
18th - Tottenham Hotspur - 34 Points
Aston Villa (a)
Leeds United (H)
Chelsea (a)
Everton (H)
A relegation battle that will see one of English football’s big names drop down to the Championship. All five clubs with history and tradition, Newcastle face two of the teams fighting to survive. Leeds play two, Forest play one, West Ham play two, and Spurs play one. Given teams around the bottom have to play each other, there will be points dropped from those teams below Newcastle United.
Even if Newcastle do end the season without another point, the games between those teams below will likely be the saviour for Newcastle. Is the performance against Arsenal the start of a revival? If so, then a win against Brighton this weekend will all but take them out of the relegation battle.
Against Arsenal, Newcastle did not look like a team who were going to get pulled into the relegation scrap, but five consecutive defeats do show a different story.
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães said after the Arsenal game, “Our season has not been good enough," he told Sky Sports. I know it. Now we have four games to save it and try and at least qualify for European football next season. I know the fans are very sad. So are we. We definitely have to improve.”
Present form would put the case towards being dragged into the battle at the bottom strongly, but given the games left to play between those at the bottom, the improved performance against Arsenal and some signs of hope, Newcastle United will remain away from the battle to survive relegation, ready for a summer that will be one of change.