Home form now key to survival
Before the victory over Manchester United in February, Newcastle were on the brink of equalling a record of nine Premier League matches at St James’ Park without a win – set by Ruud Gullit’s side in 1999. That three-and-a-half month wait for a home victory ultimately came to an end and the Magpies are now unbeaten in the last five games on Tyneside, winning the last two, with four home fixtures left on the calendar.
The visits of fellow strugglers Huddersfield and West Brom will have been pinpointed by Benitez as two must-win games that could yield six valuable points in the battle for survival, while the United boss will fancy his side’s chances of taking points from Arsenal and Chelsea.
Benitez has engineered a remarkable turnaround in form at St James’, galvanising a fanbase that was becoming disillusioned with the players’ strugglers on home turf, and must do his upmost to maintain that momentum. Supporters can at least be optimistic that with 12 points left to play for on Tyneside, Newcastle can control their Premier League destiny from the comfort of familiar surroundings.
