David Harding
Vicious Intent
Cain LynchThe Relegation Battle - Newcastle draw with West Ham
Newcastle will now have to win at least one of their final two games to secure safety after Wigan held off West Bromwich Albion to win 3-2. Newcastle were unable to break the deadlock at Upton Park, and both sides walk away with a draw.
Newcastle aren't the only side fighting for survival with two games to go, there are 8 teams that can go down, Wigan seem the likely with some tough games ahead. Newcastle have the already relegated Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road next week, and then Arsenal at home.
Newcastle had started the better in their game against West Ham, having Hatem Ben Arfa back in the side and Coloccini in defense really help the Magpies build towards almost scoring. Some would say that Papiss Cisse did score, but Winston Reid managed to clear the ball, the referees assistant fell down so he was unable to help the situation.
The argument for goal line technology was helped along with that decision some replays showed it was a goal, others didn't but that's just the luck you get when you are down near the bottom.
As good as the both teams were in defense neither were good enough in attack, although West Ham came close a couple of times, Newcastle's defenders were able to keep the ball out. Rob Elliott was strong in goals with some fine saves.
Jussi Jääskeläinen was just as good for West Ham, fans were baffled when Alan Pardew took Hatem Ben Arfa off for Shola Ameobi, but Ameobi almost scored for Newcastle. He took a couple of knocks late in the game.
Dan Gosling who has had some horrible injuries at Newcastle almost got an unlikely winner as well, after a shot bounced back into his path and he almost put it back in but it went wide. A rare clean sheet for Newcastle has seen them closer to safety but they need to improve.
The lack of goals recently has become a worry for Newcastle, Demba Ba's departure had left Newcastle with a big hole to fill, and while they found some others to score in the past lately they've not been able to.
Andy Carroll almost scored a couple times for West Ham, at times the Newcastle defenders were double teaming him but his size and strength was allowing him to get free from this and got to the ball.
The leaky defence of Newcastle was much better, they have really missed Coloccini this season, and they may hope to keep him from departing the club. Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye teaming up during the game was some of the finer moments for the Magpies in this game.
Sunderland could be plunged back into the relegation zone should they lose to Stoke City and Wigan beat Swansea on Tuesday, while Norwich City, Fulham, Aston Villa and Southampton are all in the mix of relegation with Newcastle United.
Wigan have that match in hand, which is the game on Tuesday at home, before they have the FA Cup Final against Manchester City. While they have flirted with relegation the last few seasons and survived, you have to wonder how long they can flirt with it before they end up going down.
For Newcastle a win could save them from going down, but they haven't had the best away form all season, and facing Arsenal at home will be a very tough ask for the Magpies to take the points.
Queens Park Rangers may not have much to play for at Loftus Road now, but they can still have a say in what happens in regards to the relegation battle.
Newcastle may only need 3 more points to survive, but they will need to hope for some others to fall over as well to save themselves.
Newcastle aren't the only side fighting for survival with two games to go, there are 8 teams that can go down, Wigan seem the likely with some tough games ahead. Newcastle have the already relegated Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road next week, and then Arsenal at home.
Newcastle had started the better in their game against West Ham, having Hatem Ben Arfa back in the side and Coloccini in defense really help the Magpies build towards almost scoring. Some would say that Papiss Cisse did score, but Winston Reid managed to clear the ball, the referees assistant fell down so he was unable to help the situation.
The argument for goal line technology was helped along with that decision some replays showed it was a goal, others didn't but that's just the luck you get when you are down near the bottom.
As good as the both teams were in defense neither were good enough in attack, although West Ham came close a couple of times, Newcastle's defenders were able to keep the ball out. Rob Elliott was strong in goals with some fine saves.
Jussi Jääskeläinen was just as good for West Ham, fans were baffled when Alan Pardew took Hatem Ben Arfa off for Shola Ameobi, but Ameobi almost scored for Newcastle. He took a couple of knocks late in the game.
Dan Gosling who has had some horrible injuries at Newcastle almost got an unlikely winner as well, after a shot bounced back into his path and he almost put it back in but it went wide. A rare clean sheet for Newcastle has seen them closer to safety but they need to improve.
The lack of goals recently has become a worry for Newcastle, Demba Ba's departure had left Newcastle with a big hole to fill, and while they found some others to score in the past lately they've not been able to.
Andy Carroll almost scored a couple times for West Ham, at times the Newcastle defenders were double teaming him but his size and strength was allowing him to get free from this and got to the ball.
The leaky defence of Newcastle was much better, they have really missed Coloccini this season, and they may hope to keep him from departing the club. Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye teaming up during the game was some of the finer moments for the Magpies in this game.
Sunderland could be plunged back into the relegation zone should they lose to Stoke City and Wigan beat Swansea on Tuesday, while Norwich City, Fulham, Aston Villa and Southampton are all in the mix of relegation with Newcastle United.
Wigan have that match in hand, which is the game on Tuesday at home, before they have the FA Cup Final against Manchester City. While they have flirted with relegation the last few seasons and survived, you have to wonder how long they can flirt with it before they end up going down.
For Newcastle a win could save them from going down, but they haven't had the best away form all season, and facing Arsenal at home will be a very tough ask for the Magpies to take the points.
Queens Park Rangers may not have much to play for at Loftus Road now, but they can still have a say in what happens in regards to the relegation battle.
Newcastle may only need 3 more points to survive, but they will need to hope for some others to fall over as well to save themselves.
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