Fulham riding wave of self-belief as Magpies paddle towards relegation
WATCHING Newcastle United’s performance against West Brom, you would have been forgiven for thinking it was a final-day kick-about and not two sides fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table.
United – despite three days off last week – were lacklustre and certainly looked less energetic than the unchanged Baggies side they faced.
Yes, they’ve been rocked by injuries to star men and a trainingground bust-up but given what was on offer – the chance to move six points clear of the drop zone – more was rightly expected.
As it is, the gap is now just one point after Fulham’s win at Liverpool – and instead of this point being seen as a positive one, it’s seen as two dropped.
That’s understandable – there was a total lack of urgency from United, who failed to really test a Baggies defence which has shipped 56 goals this season.
Despite the injuries to key men, United arguably still had the better starting 11. Add to that the quick turnaround of two-and-a-bit days for Sam Allardyce’s men from Goodison Park on Thursday, it really is unacceptable to approach a match with a game plan of what seemed to many to be one not to lose, as opposed to winning.
It’s perhaps no surprise, however, given Bruce’s rejection that the game was a “must-win” when asked by reporters on Friday.
And that is what has riled many; if a game against a safety rival, who has only won three times all season, is not a “must-win”, then what game is?
After their victory against Liverpool, Fulham’s Harrison Reed spoke of the “belief” manager Scott
Parker gives out, “about coming here and winning, not coming here and getting a point or anything like that”.
Former Newcastle midfielder Parker hailed “a massive result”.
“A win like this galvanises, not that we needed it or a result to give us belief or an understanding of what we can do as it’s constantly been there,” he said.
“While results can give you that extra bit of belief, this is a team which has real belief.
“We will carry on for the remainder of the season in the same vein.”
There’s an approach that every game is winnable – and while some might argue that’s no surprise given the ground Fulham have had to make up, the reality is that it is beginning to pay off.
Fulham seem to be riding a wave of self-belief, United are paddling toward relegation but with the very real threat, they’ll get dragged off course by an unwanted current.
Either Bruce and the Newcastle hierarchy are trying to play down the trouble facing them or they’re playing a tactic of burying their heads in the sand – either way, the stats don’t lie.
Newcastle have collected just 10 points from the last 42 available, while Fulham have picked up 18.
Granted, United have a game in hand on Fulham, and arguably an easier run-in, but given that Liverpool have just been beaten by Parker’s men, that might matter little.
There’s also the small matter of the goal difference; United’s -17 is worse than Brighton (-8) and Fulham (-11) and with a lack of goals in the Magpies side, that adds another element to this battle.
If those at the top of the club have not been worried about the threat of relegation, they really should be now.