The relegation picture in the Premier League could look very different the next time Newcastle United take to the pitch.
The Magpies’ next test is the clash away at Brentford on Saturday at 3pm in a huge game at the bottom of the table.
Before that though, a few of their relegation rivals are in action with midweek action potentially putting a totally different respective on the battle to avoid the drop.
Eddie Howe and his players will be glad of the rest but will be keeping a keen eye on developments elsewhere in the Premier League.
Watford and Burnley both picked up statement victories after Newcastle secured a point at the London Stadium and will be two of the teams that play throughout the week.
Burnley
The Clarets turned in the performance of the Premier League weekend as they demolished Brighton away from home for just their second win of the season.
They face a tough test in their hunt for back-to-back victories as Tottenham, fresh off their brilliant victory against Manchester City, travel to Turf Moor on Wednesday evening.
Sean Dyche’s men then face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park at the same time as Newcastle’s visit to the capital.
Watford
As for Watford, they also picked up an extremely important win on Saturday as they squeezed past Aston Villa thanks to Emmanuel Dennis’ second-half winner.
Roy Hodgson will be confident of seeing his side make it two from two as they host a struggling Palace side at Vicarage Road on Wednesday.
Like Newcastle and Burnley, the Hornets are also in action at 3pm on Saturday but will need another top-drawer performance if they are to add another three points to their tally as they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
Norwich City
Meanwhile, the Premier League weekend could not have been much worse for Norwich who returned to the foot of the table following their 3-1 defeat at Anfield.
The three teams directly above them picked up seven points between them and made Dean Smith’s task even tougher than it already was.
He will be hoping for a reaction from his players in the first game of next weekend’s fixtures as his side travel to the South coast to face in-form Southampton in the Friday Night Football clash.
Another defeat in that match will see them looking anxiously at the rest of the weekend’s fixtures whilst a win will leave them in much finer spirits.
Leeds United
After going on a run of four games without a win, Leeds have slowly been dragged back into the relegation picture towards the base of the Premier League table.
They will play two more really tricky games before Newcastle face Brentford and could find themselves below the Magpies come Saturday evening.
Firstly, they travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side showing no signs of slowing down in their chase of Manchester City before hosting Tottenham at Elland Road in Saturday’s early kick-off.
They are currently five points clear of the bottom three but that gap could soon close if their defensive frailties are not addressed in the next few days.
Newcastle will reassess their position in the table on Saturday morning after keeping an eye on developments elsewhere in the league between now and their visit to the Brentford Community Stadium.
Burnley’s two games in hand mean that the Magpies’ fate is not technically in their own hands but Howe will be aware that his side are largely in control of their own destiny.
A continuation of the strong recent form would put adequate daylight between themselves and the drop zone as the campaign edges closer to its exciting conclusion.
