Of all the 58 competitive matches between Newcastle United and Norwich City, arguably none have been bigger than tonight’s meeting.
With the Magpies rock bottom of the Premier League and still winless, and their opponents one place and three points above them, both will see tonight’s tussle at St James’ Park as a must win.
But it’s a fixture which is no stranger to drama – and no meetings of Magpies and Canaries have been more dramatic than these five most memorable games.
Newcastle 4-3 Norwich
2016-17, Championship
There’s nowhere else to really start, is there?
In the most dramatic game at St James’ Park since the 4-4 draw against Arsenal in 2011, Newcastle came from a goal down deep into added time to somehow take all three points.
Dwight Gayle gave Rafa Benitez’s side the lead on 24 minutes, but the Canaries levelled from the penalty spot a minute before half-time through Graeme Dorrans.
Shortly after the interval, Cameron Jerome gave the visitors the lead, and then current Toon player Jacob Murphy – via a wicked deflection – put Norwich 3-1 up with over 20 minutes of normal time to play.
Gayle notched his second of the game two minutes later to give the Magpies a glimmer of hope, but as the clock ticked past the 94th minute, Alex Neil’s side looked likely winners.
They didn’t even win a point.
But an equaliser from Yoan Gouffran on 95 minutes, followed by Gayle completing his hat-trick a minute later ensured Newcastle snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat.
Newcastle 6-2 Norwich
2015-16, Premier League
Georginio Wijnaldum became the second Newcastle player – after Alan Shearer - to score four goals in a Premier League game in a resounding win which took Newcastle off the bottom.
In what resembled a basketball game, United found themselves 3-1 up midway through the first half thanks to a brace from Wijnaldum and one from Ayoze Perez
Nathan Redmond pulled one back for the Canaries a minute after Perez scored, but it meant very little after the interval as the Magpies went on a second-half spree.
Wijnaldum notched another two – his fourth goal being the pick of the bunch – and Aleksandar Mitrovic also got in on the act to ensure Steve McClaren a rare good day.
Newcastle 3-0 Norwich
1994-95, Premiership
Newcastle climbed back into the Champions League positions with a 3-0 win over Norwich – but it’s game mostly remembered for a wonder goal by Peter Beardsley.
The Geordie magician has already netted an early penalty when he produced something special even by his standards just before half-time.
Wide on the right, with his only apparent option a cross into the box, Beardsley instead took aim from around 30 yards out and found the net – catching Norwich goalkeeper Andy Marshall totally off guard – before wheeling off in celebration.
Kevin Keegan’s men ensured the game was completely put to bed 16 minutes from time, thanks to a goal from Paul Kitson.
Newcastle 3-0 Norwich
1993-94, Premiership
En route to finishing third in their first season back in the Premiership, Newcastle comfortably dispatched Norwich 3-0 at St James’ Park.
On Darren Peacock’s debut – having become Britain’s most expensive defender in joining from QPR – the Magpies went ahead through Andy Cole, eight minutes before the interval.
Rob Lee made it two before Peter Beardsley put the game beyond any doubt on 70 minutes, sealing a sixth straight league victory for Kevin Keegan.
Norwich 1-1 Newcastle
1987-88, Division One
Although Newcastle didn’t win the game, this September night will always be remembered by long-standing Toon fans for Mirandinha’s Magpies debut.
In a geographically flawed homage to English football’s first Brazilian international, thousands of Geordies descended on Carrow Road wearing Sombrero hats.
Though the £575,000 striker was well marshalled – mostly by future Toon boss Steve Bruce – he did treat the travelling hordes to the odd flash of Samba magic.
And a packed away end could also celebrate Peter Jackson quickly cancelling out Wayne Biggins’ opener for Norwich.
