Rivals hoping for survival salvation
Apr 14 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
They did not get the win they desperately wanted at Stoke City, but Newcastle United have begun to suggest they are capable of survival. Chief sports writer Luke Edwards reports.
THE good news for North East football is that Newcastle and Sunderland have never been relegated together from the top flight. The bad news, of course, is there is a first time for everything.
Given the dearth of positive results this season – we should not forget Newcastle have won just six league games out of 32 – United’s fans and players alike have clung to their battling point at Stoke City like a stricken passenger grimly holding on to a small piece of the boat they were once travelling on.
A draw at the intimidating Britannia Stadium will not be enough to rescue them from relegation, but it at least maintains the hope of salvation at the end of another shipwreck of a season at St James’s Park.
It was a point which means that, with the teams directly above them all losing last weekend, Newcastle have dragged their rivals back into trouble with six nerve-wracking games left to play.
After back-to-back home defeats by Arsenal and Chelsea, United have a lifeline again and that really is something they must try to cling on to.
Yet, while Andy Carroll’s magnificent header meant the Magpies returned home with something to show for their efforts, it should not be allowed to disguise the fact that – if you will excuse the pun – they had looked all at sea for long spells in the Potteries.
Having worked all week on Stoke’s aerial threat at set-pieces, Newcastle’s defence still struggled to cope with them and, on another day, the visitors could have been well beaten long before a new local hero headed them level.
As for Newcastle’s threat going forward, it was virtually non-existent until Carroll replaced the hapless Shola Ameobi and Jonás Gutiérrez came on for the equally anonymous Danny Guthrie. Shearer is still learning about his players and because of the nature of the situation he has come into, he is having to do it on his feet on the training ground and on his nerves in the dug-out on a matchday. At least the former Newcastle skipper knows most of his players have got the stomach for the fight they are embroiled in.
