Wow. What a day this has turned out to be for Newcastle United – without us even kicking a ball!
All eye’s were on Huddersfield and Reading today, being the only sides threatening our promotion to the Premier League this summer. 4th place Huddersfield played host to the dangerous Fulham, with 3rd place Reading facing a trip to relegation threatened Nottingham Forest.
There was a lot riding on both games, with their results affecting Newcastle’s ability to officially earn promotion on Monday.
Here’s how they got on:
Huddersfield 1-4 Fulham (Yes, FOUR!)
We hoped for a big favour from Fulham here, a team that dismantled us at St. James’ last month, and boy did they deliver!
To our dismay, Huddersfield took an early lead thanks to a 4th minute penalty. Thankfully, Fulham equalised 10 minutes later and from then on in, never looked back.
A Fulham spot kick was then awarded and converted by NUFC target, Tom Cairney, handing Fulham a 2-1 lead.
At this point I was delighted. Huddersfield needed a win to do any damage but, no sooner after going in front, were behind!
It then went from bad to worse for Huddersfield, but from a Newcastle perspective, from good to great. Huddersfield, quite unthinkably, went into the break 4-1 down, with Stefan Johansen scoring twice before half-time, and this is how it stayed.
Nottingham Forest 3-2 Reading
Whilst Reading started the day in 3rd, 6 points behind us, we knew that should they fail to win today, they could not overtake Newcastle should we beat Preston on Monday.
Whilst Fulham were always going to give Huddersfield a game, I wasn’t banking on the relegation threatened Forest to trouble Reading, given the reds had won just 1 of their last 8.
To my delight, I was proved wrong! Forest lead 3-0 with half an hour to play, so at this point, we were sitting pretty with Huddersfield also 3 goals behind at home to Fulham.
Reading pulled 2 goals back, meaning for a nervy finish at the City Ground, but Forest held on.
Results literally couldn’t have gone any better for us today, with defeats for Huddersfield and Reading meaning that Newcastle will be OFFICIALLY promoted to the Premier League should we beat Preston at St. James’ Park on Monday.
Fulham and Forest we salute you. Now let’s get the job done once and for all on Monday night.
A promotion party and the Premier League awaits!
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Great day Olly, and hopefully an even better one on Monday, I will be fuming if we fail to beat a poor Preston who have 3 first choice defenders out too.
kimtoon(Quote)
GET IN
NOW LETS DO IT MONDAY LADS
TEAM
DARLOW
ANITA
MBEMBA
CLARK
DUMMETT
RITCHIE
SHELVEY
HAYDEN
GOUF
MITRO
MURPHY
HWTL
WE’RE NEWCASTLE AND WE’RE GOING TO PREMIER LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!
Decca63(Quote)
What a weekend of results. If we take all 3 points on Monday then the title is still very much on IMO. Brighton have a couple of potential banana skins, and last nights result will have knocked a bit of confidence out of them. Probably knocked a little complacency out of them too mind.
Although, I’d take 2nd place right now in a heartbeat.
YouYew(Quote)