Champions League chasing Newcastle United were stunned 4-0 by lowly Wigan on Saturday. Can Alan Pardew’s men pick themselves up?
Wigan supporters didn’t know whether to pinch themselves, Newcastle fans didn’t know what to do.
This wasn’t the same side that had won five consecutive matches and elevated themselves to fourth in the table surely?
Despite their league position, the performance wasn’t totally unexpected. Newcastle have had some horrific away showings this season, losing 4-2 at Norwich, 5-2 to Fulham, and 5-0 to Spurs. Not just one freak result.
Over the years fans have learned to expect the unexpected, and this was very much a case in point.
There is no point in Pardew’s side dwelling on the defeat. They have bounced back from the aforementioned away defeats to recover, and that is what they will need to do again. Even so the aftermath looks grim.
Who’s up next? Only Chelsea and Manchester City, no big deal.
Newcastle really would have been targeting a Wigan win to stay in the race for the top four. With Arsenal’s dropped points, they even would have been handed the initiative for third, had they also won all their remaining games.
This now looks a long way off, after their shock defeat, and Tottenham’s win over Blackburn now sees Newcastle drop to fifth on goal difference.
To take a pessimistic view, defeat to Chelsea would surely be fatal to their Champions League hopes.
Tottenham have easier games to come, Bolton (a) Villa (a) and Fulham (h), compared to Newcastle’s run in which finishes with an away match at Goodison Park.
It is not inconceivable Newcastle lose all three of their remaining games. They need to get points on the board against Chelsea in midweek to prevent such a slide becoming a reality.
Even if they do, they still have much to be proud of. The hope of Champions League qualification has raised expectations, but any side that loses 4-0 to Wigan are surely not quite ready to compete with Europe’s elite just yet.
Wins over Chelsea and Manchester City might just prove us wrong.
Has defeat to Wigan ruined Newcastle’s Champions League dream?
image: © mickyb59
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