Archive for tag: promotion from the Championship.

Why Newcastle United’s last two games will be important

April 27th, 2017 | 20 Comments |

Rafa Benitez.
Benitez: Still needs to restore a bit of pride?
Before last Monday evening, a run of one point from three games had seen Newcastle fall seven points behind Brighton. A convincing and confidence boosting 4-1 victory against Preston steadied nerves, assuring automatic promotion, but as a team feted as one of the best (or most expensive) ever to find themselves in the Championship, it is hard to escape the feeling that the Magpies still have something to prove before they take the step up to the Premier League once more. That’s without the possible ramifications of the looming tax scandal of course, but that’s a whole different story!

While Chris Hughton’s Seagulls wrapped up their promotion bid early, The Magpies seemed intent on putting their fans through as much anguish as possible (a familiar feeling some Geordies might say). However, Rafa Benitez’s men can be thankful for the equally dreadful form of Huddersfield making their automatic promotion bid much easier than it could have been. Of course, that poor run was stopped against Preston last Monday evening, and Newcastle now have a chance to continue making a statement of intent in their final two games. (more…)


Toon cannot get complacent, warns Harper.

October 13th, 2009 | 115 Comments |

Harper warns against complacency
Harper warns against complacency
Sitting at the top of the Championship, it’s tempting to think Newcastle United have had it easy but the truth is we’ve had to work hard to get points in some games.

On paper we’ve arguably got the best team in the Championship, populated by ex-Premiership players with skill and experience. There have been moments when this has looked true – phases in games when we’ve looked a cut above other teams in our ability to pass and keep the ball. But at times we’ve also looked a little overwhelmed when teams have come at us hard and fast, like Blackpool did.

Steve Harper has been warning that we mustn’t underestimate our opposition:

We’ve had a good start to the season and with a quarter of the season gone we are happy with where we are.

But there is a long way to go. We haven’t achieved anything yet.

We can not afford to underestimate this division.

There are 23 other teams in there who could all stop us from getting promoted. There are a lot of games in this league, more games than we are used to playing with a smaller squad than we are used to having. (more…)


A season at the races for Newcastle fans?

September 7th, 2009 | 18 Comments |

A promotion race would do us the world of good
A promotion race would do us the world of good
While fans are divided on their thoughts away from the pitch, it would be hard to argue that you’re not happy with the results on it. The football is hardly of the ‘total’ variety but in a results game, we’re grinding out the points where it counts and really, for now, that’s what matters most. Because it gives us something to get a bit carried away about and something to focus on. Not least it restores a bit of pride.

The last time we were relegated to this division, I was really just starting to watch regularly and for those old enough to reminisce prior to the ’90s, the parrallels between then and now will not be lost on you. The 88/89 season saw lose us our top flight status while discord was rife on the terracing and a Newcastle board struggled incompetently to run our beloved football club.

However, a summer and some inspired Jim Smith signings later, the sun was out, Mick Quinn and Mark McGhee led the division a merry dance and before you know it we’re sitting in a healthy league position behind the top two and the future was looking slightly rosier. (more…)