Newcastle’s struggle for consistency, shaky defending an ongoing injury issues may be a concern, but we still have so much to play for heading into the final 10 games of our season – and one big advantage.
As revealed by an official Premier League report looking at each clubs remaining fixtures, no one has a kinder run-in that Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
They state, ‘Newcastle United have on paper the “easiest” remaining schedule. Their 10 opponents have an average of 33.5 points won between them this season. That’s the equivalent of Newcastle facing a 14th-placed team in every match they have left.’
Six of our final 10 games are against bottom half sides, with Everton (h), Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (a), Sheff Utd (h), Burnely (a) and Brentford (a) still to come. We also have home advantage against European rivals West Ham, Brighton and Spurs, while our toughest away game is a tricky but winnable trip to Old Trafford; where we beat them 3-0 in the League Cup earlier in the season.
On the flip side, Brighton – one of the teams trying to beat us to 7th – have the hardest fixtures on paper, with their remaining opponents average 45.1 points; which is the equivalent of facing a seventh-placed side.
This only means so much and Saturday’s clash with West Ham feel massive, but a win would be huge for momentum given the kind run of fixtures that’s set to follow.
