No team in Premier League history has suffered relegation from the position Newcastle United are in. A 1-0 win over Wolves on Friday lifted the Magpies 10 points clear of the drop zone with just eight games remaining.
Victory moved Eddie Howe’s men onto 34 points from 31 games - a position no team in the competition has ever surrendered from. In 2008/09, the first time Newcastle were relegated under Mike Ashley, they only managed 29 at this stage of the season. Likewise, in 2015/16, Rafa Benitez was just three games into his Tyneside tenure and United were stuck on a measly 25 points from 31 outings.
The highest tally any club has managed after 31 games and still went down is Blackpool in 2010/11. Ian Holloway’s side amassed 33 points but won just once in their last 11 and were relegated by a point on the final day of the campaign. Bitter rivals Sunderland also slipped up under Peter Reid. The Black Cats were on 32 points - three clear of the bottom three - but were demoted in 1996/97 after losing 1-0 to Wimbledon in their last game of the season.
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However, there are still several warning signs for Toon fans to note from the Premier League history book. Eight years ago, Norwich were a comfortable mid-table side, sitting on 32 points - seven above the relegation zone - in 13th. A disastrous run-in saw the Canaries lose six of their last seven and hurtle towards the Championship.
West Ham would have felt aggrieved to have gone down in 2002/03 despite achieving 42 points - the most any team has achieved and still been relegated. The Hammers were stuck on 30 after 31 games and an impressive run at the tail end of the season was still not enough to keep them up. Just one defeat in their final 11 games - including six wins - would have ensured survival in any other Premier League campaign.
Newcastle will become the first team in the competition's history to beat the drop after failing to win any of their first 14 games if they do stay up this season.
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