The prospect of watching Chelsea vs Manchester United with any relevance to Newcastle United used to be a pipe dream. Just months ago, Toon supporters were praying the likes of Burnley, Norwich City or Watford would fail to scrape a result in the relegation dogfight.
The Magpies were dealt a hammer blow in January when Joao Pedro’s late equaliser snatched a crushing equaliser for Watford at St James’ Park. Astonishingly, Newcastle had now surrendered 21 points from winning positions - an ominous sign which thumped another nail into their top-flight coffin.
As we all know, the start of a dramatic turnaround would occur one week later with a gutsy 1-0 win at Leeds United. Following that up with an emphatic home victory over Everton lifted United out of the drop zone - and they have never looked back.
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Supporters have ridden the Eddie Howe wave ever since and now find their club sixth in the table after 11 games in 2022-23. Valiant performances against big boys Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have been supplemented with hidings dished out to Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Brentford.
On Saturday evening, Magpies fans must have pinched themselves as another post-takeover reality materialised. Man United travelled to Chelsea, a fixture which served as nothing more than mere entertainment until now. Yet Newcastle fans still kept one eye on the league table as the top-of-the-table clash played out.
Why? Because they now have a dog in the race.
No longer do supporters fear looking over their shoulders or hearing gut-wrenching terms like “the 40-point mark” and “relegation six-pointer”. Instead, the overwhelming emotion on Tyneside is excitement as the Magpies launch an assault for European football.
As it happened, the result at Stamford Bridge was perfect from Newcastle’s perspective. Ironically, it was a last-gasp header to clinch a 1-1 draw - akin to Pedro’s at St James’ Park in January - which caused Man United fans to erupt in the away end.
But Howe & Co could have the biggest celebration of all by Sunday teatime if they climb up to fourth spot. Beating Tottenham Hotspur to move into the Champions League places is a far cry from praying for some relegation respite. If this is the difference after one year, imagine the scenes after 10.
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