Newcastle United’s increasingly bizarre campaign took another surprising turn during their first game of 2017 as the Magpies suffered a 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Despite dominating proceedings for much of the game, Owen Coyle’s relegation battlers were able to do the double over Rafa Benitez after Charlie Mulgrew fired in a late free kick.
In truth, as comfortable as the Toon were at times, they rarely ever threatened after the opening 45 minutes and a late Rovers winner seemed to be inevitable, such is the nature of the Magpies’ luck of late.
The once seemingly insurmountable lead atop the league those in black and white held just before Christmas has now crumbled and Brighton have a two-point cushion, as well as a game in hand.
Crucially, third-placed Reading are just 6 off Newcastle right now, meaning some January transfer business really is in order on Tyneside.
So, what did we learn during the loss at Ewood Park?
Here are FOUR things it taught us.
