The Magpies face the 576-mile round trip to Reading on Tuesday night in an action-packed night of Championship football which could see Rafael Benítez’s men go eight points clear at the top if results go their way.
Finally, it seems Newcastle are taking control in the Championship with promotion all but assured. Now the attention turns to the race for the title.
Back to back defeats for Brighton has allowed the Magpies to open up some daylight at the summit, but things can quickly turn around in the Championship and an away trip to inform Reading is something to cause a little concern.
Jaap Stam has been an overwhelming success in charge of the Royals and with a playoff place up for grabs, expect no free gifts in Berkshire on Tuesday night.
Predicting the outcome is no easy feat, however, Betting on Newcastle has never been so valuable: We have discovered that Biggest free bets have daily exclusive odds enhancement offers and free bet deals, some of which are dedicated to Benitez’s men.
That should make it easier when looking at Newcastle’s odds on Tuesday night but it is the run of fixtures after the Reading trip that will make for some pleasant reading.
There are no easy games in the Championship, however, Newcastle do have the joy off home advantage in three of their next four games after the Royals, as they face three teams seventeenth or lower in the league.
In fact, it is just the visit of Fulham to St James Park on Saturday that precedes a run of 17th placed Birmingham, 23rd placed Wigan then 19th placed Burton Albion.
Fulham pose a threat but at fortress St James Park, they should not cause the Magpies too many problems especially with the returning Dwight Gayle to fire Newcastle to promotion.
Birmingham City are a shade of the side they were under Gary Rowett.
Rowett’s surprise sacking has seen the Blues plummet from seventh to seventeenth in the league with just two wins in their last ten, leaving the midlands faithful grateful the season has not just begun.
That will surely make it six points out of six with a home tie against relegation troubled Wigan up next.
Warren Joyce took over the mantle at Wigan in November and has been unable to guide the Lactic’s to any kind of form that suggests they have a chance of survival, a trip to Newcastle will do their confidence no good as Newcastle will undoubtedly run out comfortable winners.
Rounding out Newcastle’s comfortable run is the visit of Burton Albion to St James Park. The Brewers are making a good fist of it after promotion from League One last season.
Nineteenth in the league and three points above the drop zone has given Nigel Clough’s men plenty of reason to be optimistic.
However, a trip to Newcastle will surely be a fight to far as the Magpies make it four wins out if four.
With the next four games, pretty much assured victory, it just leaves Tuesday night’s game against Reading as a key game in the race for the title.
Get past Reading and its plane sailing, right? Well nearly.
