How long can Newcastle keep defying the odds as they rise from the dead? It is now four successive victories at a bouncing St James' Park as they go again confronted first by Leicester and then Crystal Palace in the blink of an eye.
United have not dropped a home point in three months, admittedly a time lengthened by a crazy fixture list that saw them prior to Friday night's welcome return to home soil play six games out of seven on the road. Each of their four home victories - 12 points out of 12 sounds fab does it not? - have been in tight matches. Wolves 1-0, Brighton 2-1, Aston Villa 1-0 and Everton 3-1 with their third coming late on.
They last dropped points before the massed faithful on January 15 when Watford drew with them 1-1. So will United eke out another close fought win against Leicester's recent PL champions and FA Cup holders? To do so they must again defy the odds as they have for so long playing without a reliable finisher.
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Callum Wilson is still United's top goalscorer with a modest six and he last played when Hadrian was building his wall in these parts or so it seems! Two goals is a meagre return from their last four matches and they came from a free-kick and a penalty rather than open play but then United are in the early stages of rebuilding from permanent relegation battles year upon year and so limitations are to be expected.
We care little. When this season got under way with Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce masquerading as Batman and Robin relegation seemed inevitable yet here we are as snug as a bug in a rug. Ta Amanda, Jamie and Saudi backers, thanks Eddie and coaching staff, well done new signings and old boys. United are united again and that is the basics achieved.
Many ta's as well to the fans who have played a major part in United's winning four-match run at SJP. They have gone from toxic to triumphant and that is the biggest condemnation of Messrs Ashley and Bruce. Geordies were told to be grateful for Ashley because he could balance the books and for Bruce because he could keep United up which was the best we could hope for because we had a cross to bear throughout life.
Well, no, the cross was because of those at the helm. Compare the first half of this season under them and the second half under people with ambition who know how to tap in to the deep passion felt by Geordies for their beloved club. Any potential manager or owner would love to inherit what was waiting to be released here on the banks of the Tyne. This was literally a sleeping giant desperate for the kiss of life! It was begging to be recognised.
Leicester carry enough potential clout even without Jamie Vardy to concern teams like Newcastle but then so did Wolves and to a certain extent Brighton and Villa. The result can go either way and it has to be worked on with sweat and no fears.
That United can achieve what Leicester have done in recent memory - league and cup - would be gratefully received. My would it! Last league for Newcastle 1927, last FA Cup 55. Still, first things first. Safety and respectability. Finish as high as possible given what went before.
Often when there are only seven matches to go there is precious little to play for but United are set to have a major say in what happens at both top and bottom. They still have to face the two locked in a title showdown, Manchester City and Liverpool, as well as two embroiled in a desperate relegation scrap Norwich and Burnley.
Here is another thought as we enter the final furlong: United have to try and see off an unwanted record. They have only one chance left to complete a double this season and it is not often they have fallen short of doing that over a long campaign. However when a team fails to win a league match until the 15th attempt at the start of a campaign then opportunities to beat someone twice are few and far between.
One final shot is left and, no, it is not when Newcastle go to bottom club Norwich. The Canaries earned a 1-1 draw up here. It is on the very last day because United ended that long winless run extending until December 4 by defeating Burnley 1-0 at the park. So plenty of interest still left. Nothing is ever dull with the Mags is it?
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