Norwich City v Newcastle United Preview

If ever there was a 6 pointer. This is it.

A lot was made of the Newcastle v Sunderland derby game and the importance of a result for either side a week and a few days ago but this game at the weekend for Newcastle is arguably more important.

It was important not to lose against Sunderland but it is more important not to lose against Norwich City. Even a draw in this game could signal disaster for us as well as at the same time as we play Norwich City at their place, Sunderland take on WBA in a home fixture I suspect they will win.

From now on, draws are no good for Newcastle United, we simply have to win games and we must beat the teams close to us, starting with Norwich City on Saturday.

Newcastle United go in to the game, as ever, on top of the injury league. We have lost Jack Colback to suspension due to the booking he picked up in the derby and now, arguably our best player this season, we have lost Rob Elliot to a serious ACL injury; ruling him out for the rest of the season and most of the summer. There are injury doubts over Daryl Janmaat too and with Cheick Tiote, Haidara, Coloccini and Dummett all ruled out, we really are down to bare bones in a must win fixture.

That said, we have Rafa Benitez.

I am feeling the Benitez factor and I’ll be honest, as much as relegation scares me, losing Benitez scares me more. Holding on to Benitez means more to me than relegation or survival right now. Should we manage to cling on to safety I am genuinely looking forward to a pre-season and rebuilding project under Benitez’s guidance (should he stay). Should we go down, and as expected, Benitez leaves, I suspect we won’t be back in the Premiership for some time, it could be decades. For me, Benitez has a massive part to play in the next 8 games. Put it this way, I’d rather be pinning my hopes on him than Steve McClaren.

Newcastle United last recorded a league victory over Norwich City in the 93/94 season when Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole scored in a 2-1 victory. Ahhh, the 93/94 season…also known as the time “when we were good”. Memories, happy memories…

Since then we have gone on a 5 match win-less streak, losing 3 times and drawing 0-0 on the last 2 occasions. As I said though, we need a win, a draw against Norwich City gets us nowhere, it takes a game away and gives Sunderland an opportunity to claw even further ahead.

I am not looking forward to this game at all and I really am fearing the worst. We have so many injuries we are simply going to have to play people out of position and that scenario has never, ever, played out well for us.

I say it is a must win, but please don’t lose. Please?!