Former Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand believes Magpies fans need to keep backing the team even during difficult home matches, and try not to transmit their anxiety to the players on the pitch at St James’ Park.
Reflecting on his own time at Newcastle when the the club were chasing the Premier League title in 1996, Ferdinand believes anxiety from fans in home games contributed to the club losing their 12 point lead over Manchester United. He hopes fans take lessons from that season, backing the team unquestionably during the last five home matches of the Championship season.
Ferdinand, now director of football at QPR, says if the Toon Army back the team to their maximum they will sail to the Championship title. He said to the Shields Gazette:
“I felt it as a player when I was here and we were trying to win the league. All of a sudden things started to go wrong and there was a little bit of anxiety… But when they get behind the team they are the best. I’m telling you now, if they were to get behind that team at home the way that these supporters can get behind a team, you would be land-sliding it at home every week.”
The Magpies have two home matches in a row against Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion over the next week; both matches that the Magpies are expected to win relatively comfortably.
