Newcastle United Fan View: Toon closing in on magic 40-point mark

Newcastle United’s fantastic 3-0 home victory over Southampton last weekend went a long way to securing the Magpies’ survival in the Premier League; 40 points – the target is in sight. The win was both hard-earned and classy, with goals coming from the Chelsea loanee Kenedy (two) and Matt Ritchie.

Saints’ fans must be worried by the manner in which they lost the game; they simply rolled over for us and the defeat signalled yet another managerial change in the bottom half of the table with Mauricio Pellegrino sacked just days later and replaced by Mark Hughes. However, what does the rest of the season hold for Newcastle United?

AS IT HAPPENED: Newcastle v Southampton

READ MORE: Magpies go five clear of drop and pile pressure on Pellegrino

READ MORE: Pellegrino: Southampton didn’t represent club values

Rafa Benitez and his squad are currently in Spain on a four-day break, which sees them take in a friendly against Belgium side Royal Antwerp. It is a friendly with a twist, as the game is going to be played in three periods of 45 minutes; certainly a first in my lifetime, but the tie against Antwerp does bring back some great early memories for me.

We played Royal Antwerp in 1994, I was 14 at the time and you could argue this period was the greatest time to be a Newcastle United fan in the modern era. We were in the Premier League, playing fantastic football and sweeping sides away. In the away tie at Antwerp we won 5-0 with Rob Lee scoring a hat-trick and, whilst Newcastle United fans can only dream of those kind of nights returning, the decision to play Antwerp in Spain this weekend is a good one.

Following the Southampton game, Newcastle have an extended three-week break thanks to their standard early exit from the FA Cup and also thanks to Tottenham’s extended run in the Champions League and FA Cup. It means our next game in the Premier League is another home game against a fellow relegation rival; Huddersfield Town at the end of the month.

I think fans of most sides in the bottom half will have run through the various league predictors online and I am no different. I did one a month or so ago and had us surviving, just. That being said though, I did have us down to lose at home to Manchester United (we won) and lose away at Bournemouth (we drew). I was fairly pessimistic when I did the predictions and the only wins I gave us were the three home games against the lower placed sides; Southampton, Huddersfield and West Brom.

Newcastle are deservedly in the bottom half, thanks in no part to some woeful form and performances over the Winter period, but there were some games that could have gone either way and this is something that must be addressed next season.

Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune have started to form a wonderful partnership in the heart of defence and with new signing Dubravka behind them, I have actually started to enjoy our defensive play and feel confident in games.

However, the standout performer for me and the reason for our upturn in form is Paul Dummett. He has been utterly fantastic since returning from injury and whilst he still has his limits going forward, his defensive ability is second to none and I salute Rafa Benitez for sticking with him when a lot of fans, myself very much included, were calling for him to be replaced. I am always willing to hold my hands up when I am wrong and this time I am doing just that. Paul Dummett, you wonderful, wonderful left-back.

A win against Huddersfield at the end of the month is just as crucial as it was prior to the Southampton game – we simply can not afford to lose against a team close to the bottom. We also have home games to come against Chelsea and Arsenal, and whilst I don’t expect much from these games, the victory against Manchester United shows we can compete with the very best and more than hold our own.

The timing of our upturn in form has been fantastic and whilst teams like WBA, Stoke City, Southampton and Crystal Palace are starting to struggle, we have raised our game and started to climb the league. That said, a loss against Huddersfield could put us right back down in to the thick of it, so I am hoping the three-week break will rejuvenate the squad and, of course, allow Islam Slimani to get fit.

Newcastle United have eight games left and we currently sit five points above the relegation zone. The magic 40 points is only eight points away, but in reality I think 38 will be enough. Beat Huddersfield and WBA and we should be okay, although I would like to think we will make it a little more comfortable for ourselves. But let’s not forget, this is Newcastle United, we don’t do comfortable!

I’ll leave you with some predictions… ever the pessimist!

• Huddersfield (H) – WIN

• Leicester (A) – LOSE

• Arsenal (H) – DRAW

• Everton (A) – LOSE

• WBA (H) – WIN

• Watford (A) – LOSE

• Chelsea (H) – LOSE

• Tottenham (A) – LOSE