Newcastle have lost their opening two games of the Championship season.
Newcastle’s Championship campaign could not have gotten off to a worse start, losing to Fulham and Huddersfield.
With what looks like the strongest squad and the best manager in the league, most expected the Magpies to dominate the league from the off.
Alas, Newcastle have zero points from a possible six, looking like a side that is yet to adapt to the Championship.
While things have not gone to plan for Rafael Benitez’s side, with people now questioning their promotion credentials, a piece of history from their rivals Sunderland could could give Newcastle hope.
During the 2006/07 Championship season, the last time Sunderland competed in the second tier, the Black Cats lost all of their opening four games.
Despite a shambolic start which saw them sat at the bottom of the league, come May they were crowned champions with 88 points.
Newcastle need to settle into Championship life quickly but must not panic. With 44 games still to play and 132 points up for grabs, Benitez will know that his side’s stuttering start should not be too big a cause for concern.
No side can have a perfect season, and every team will have a blip. This could be Newcastle’s blip, and it is being made all the more alarming by the spotlight they are under as the favourites to win the league.
Their next game is at home to Reading, and Newcastle will be under the microscope yet again as they hope to make it third time lucky and pick up their first three points of the season.
The Championship is a long slog and will not be won in August. Sunderland are perfect examples of that.
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