It’s fair to say results haven’t gone Newcastle United’s way once again this week, with us losing against Leeds 24 hours before Burnley, Fulham and Brighton ALL picked up points.
Last night, Burnley beat Aston Villa 3-2 to move three clear of us and NINE above the drop zone, while Fulham got a point at Brighton to take them within six and one of Newcastle respectively.
Considering Fulham have a game in hand on us, better goal difference and travel to West Brom at the weekend (who’ve lost their home games by an aggregate score of 16-0 since Big Sam took over), there’s a real fear the current six-point gap could be cut significantly if we don’t get something at Everton in the early kick off on Saturday.
It’s quite telling that we were rated at 3/1 to go down after the defeat at Sheffield United, but a fortnight later and they same bookies have us at 6/5 – just marginally behind third-bottom Fulham at 10/11.
Here are the relegation favourites according to the latest odds, followed by the current league standings:
- Sheffield Utd – 1/14 (1.07)
- West Brom – 1/10 (1.1)
- Fulham – 10/11 (1.91)
- Newcastle – 6/5 (2.20)
- Brighton – 9/2 (5.5)
- Burnley – 8/1 (9)
- Crystal Palace – 10/1 (11)
So, the bookies having Sheffield United and West Brom as good as gone, Fulham and Newcastle almost neck and neck, Brighton deemed over TWICE as likely to stay up as us and Burnley sitting pretty at 8/1 after back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Aston Villa.
Some felt like Burnley were never likely to go down under Sean Dyche, but they started the night level with us on 19 points – until they came from behind to beat an in-form Aston Villa side 3-2 at Turf Moor.
That win now means they’ve picked up ELEVEN points since we last won a Premier League game (the 2-1 victory over West Brom in December).
Brighton then took on Fulham at The Amex in a relegation six-pointer that ended with both sides picking up a point in a 0-0 draw.
It could be seen as an ideal result as neither picked up what would’ve been a huge three points, however the draw means they both gain on us…again!
Elsewhere at the bottom, Sheffield United pulled off a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford, but they and West Brom – who lost 0-5 at home to Man City on Tuesday – both have mountains to climb.
To think Steve Bruce said we weren’t in a relegation battle the day before we were beaten at Sheffield United.
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Surely a draw between Fulham and Brighton was the best result?
JulioLaker(Quote)
Well done Bruce you managed to take the 2 north east. Clubs down I know we are not down yet but can you see where the next win is coming from never mind a win where the next point is coming from as for the take over don’t make me laugh the arbitration you got to ask why Ashley did not go there when it was offered there is no take over Ashley has left it to late now to stop the slide and it serves him right for getting Bruce do it looks like the 3 times under Ashley ownership
Ricky(Quote)
All of a sudden the clown’s on sky & BT saying the squad’s **** a new manager won’t make a difference,yet pre season it was,how good a team we had & bruce made great signings & got them in early to work with them, the leeds game,look how well we played the second half,all the pundits, different team second half,yes but they get sent out to play the way they did in the first half, his tactics are appalling, defensive defensive defensive, once we go behind then we push on , until they score we won’t pass the ball beyond the halfway line, Bruce is useless & he’s going to get us relegated exactly like he did Sunderland
Ian young(Quote)