Thanks to Stoke City’s 2-1 away win against Hull City today, Newcastle United’s Premier League survival is in their own hands. The Toon don’t have to rely on other results to guarantee safety.

A win against Middlesbrough on Monday, would see Newcastle level on points with Hull – with a superior goal difference. All we would need to do at that point is match what Hull do. That’s it – this is what it’s came down to.

Alan Shearer can now look his players square in the eye and let them know that it’s down to them. We only hope that they care as much for Newcastle United as he does.

So this is what a relegation fight feels like. Sitting 18th in the league and three points adrift, playing an uncompromising team who are equally up for the scrap, and players who are about as confident as a bag of bricks.

These next seven games are about as important as they could get for Newcastle United, and everyone of them is as important as the last. Fortunately, instead of having Chris Hughton leading the charge, we have Alan Shearer. If players can’t get motivated to play for the black and white shirt when he’s manager, then they never well – it’s those players who we need to get rid of, whether we stay up or not.

The good news: Bassong is back, the Toon Army have taken up their full allocation of 2,800 tickets, and the mackems have to play Man Utd.

The not so good news: Taylor, Lovenkrands and Enrique are out and Stoke have only lost three games at the Potteries all season.

Howay the Toon.

An efficient performance by Newcastle United in the first-half saw them going in at half-time looking very comfortable being two goals up with Michael Owen bagging a brace. Stoke City were very poor in the first half and were fortunate to not be more than two goals behind.

However, in true Newcastle style, we threw it away thanks to a former player. Like Titus Bramble in the last minute against Wigan, Abdoulaye Faye came back to haunt Newcastle and left us looking for our first win in three games. Our second-half performance was dreadful.

Things are looking very serious now for the Toon. Joe Kinnear’s rant for the free-kick given which led to Stoke’s second goal reeks of desperation. It’s not the ref’s fault or the linesman’s fault, the fact of the matter is this – if we can’t defend a last minute free-kick against a newly promoted Championship side, then things are not looking good for the rest of the season.

Another thing, just when will Kinnear realise that bringing on Viduka for Martins is not going to do us any favours? We need an outlet upfront, someone who’s quick and can turn his defender inside out, Viduka is not that, and nor is Michael Owen. If you’re going to sub someone, especially since Stoke bypass the midfield with their direct style of play, take off a midfielder and throw Viduka on.

The only positive thing going for us today is that the teams around us lost. Aside from that, I’m not exactly looking forward to the Christmas schedule with this lot. It’s going to be a long old season supporting the Toon, but what’s new?

So Stoke City and their rabble rousers bring their long throw-in to St James’s tomorrow. Joe Kinnear looks to field an unchanged side from the one that drew against the Smoggies which means Steven Taylor will again be warming the substitutes bench.

If we avoid a loss we go three games unbeaten and if we win, we’ll go above Stoke in the table. This is a must win game. If we can’t beat the likes of Stoke City at home, then we seriously have some problems.

According to Joe Kinnear, he invented the long throw during his stint at Wimbledon. He cited that Vinnie Jones was able to lob the ball in and they’d win the near post flick on. Aye, but howay Joe, this is Newcastle you’re talking about. We’re not exactly the crazy gang. Half of our lot would rather jump out of the way of the ball than stick their nut on it and get it clear.

Anyway, I’ll say a Toon win tomorrow: 2-0

Howay the Toon