Newcastle survive ‘big moment’ — but their season is still in sudden death
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If he may have more power at St James’ Park now the sporting director Dan Ashworth is tending to his garden, thus far Newcastle’s Saudi majority owners have not been tested by failure. Now Newcastle’s campaign feels in sudden death; again perhaps one game – or one unkind FA Cup draw – from ending. Theirs has been a curiosity of a campaign, with 10th position obscuring the way the highs have felt stratospheric: the opening 5-1 evisceration of Aston Villa has looked a still better result as the Midlanders have taken Newcastle’s mantle as the challengers to the established order. He is a worse stylistic fit than Pope, his reluctance to act as a sweeper-keeper meaning Newcastle’s high defensive line – and a back four not overly blessed with pace – has facilitated opportunities.