Two years ago Newcastle United buckled under the pressure of a relegation battle, but Steve Harper is adamant they are now made of stronger stuff. Chief sports writer Luke Edwards reports

NEWCASTLE United’s players begun the season worrying about relegation, but for the first time since they returned to the top flight they find themselves in a position where they need to be scared of it.

For the first time since they crashed out of the Premier League two years ago, Newcastle United’s players are heading into a home game under real pressure and with serious doubts about their ability to survive.

Battered by the negativity generated by a run of just one win in ten games, bruised by the vicious criticism that followed a limp 4-0 defeat at Stoke City a fortnight ago, this is arguably the biggest test so far for a dressing room which claims it thrives on adversity.

They have done that in the past, responding to every minor crisis in the Championship with belligerence, camaraderie and class, but this is not English football’s second tier.

The last time Newcastle found themselves in this predicament they wilted in the heat and crumbled. As good as their record has been since the dreadful run in of 2009, it is inevitable fans have started to fear they are heading for a repeat.

Newcastle need a steady, reassuring hand and they find one in goalkeeper Steve Harper. Been there, done it, bought the T-shirt and worn it so many times he had to get another.

“We knew when we came up from the Championship there would be difficult times in this league,” said Harper, Newcastle’s longest-serving player and a hugely influential figure behind the scenes.

“When you’ve lost two games, and when you’ve only had those two games spread out over the course of four or five weeks, it’s very difficult. Two weeks is a long time at any stage of the season to dwell on a defeat, wherever you are in the league. Hopefully we’ll see a response on Saturday.

“It feels different to two years ago, the dressing room plays a big part in that. We have a very good dressing room and an experienced one. People talk about two years ago, but I remember three years ago. We were in a similar situation as well, finished strongly and pulled clear of it to end up with 43 points.

“Two years ago it sort of crept up on us and people were thinking we’ll be fine, but as the games go by, and suddenly you get caught up in it, so we’re all fully aware of the situation.”

Being aware of something and being able to do something about it are very different, but Harper insists Newcastle’s players have never lost sight of their goals.

Even during those brief and foolhardy mentions of European qualification at the start of the year, United have always been aware of what constitutes a successful season. They always felt they could be in this position and, now that they are, there is calm calculation, not disappointment and panic.