Steve Bruce told reporters in the aftermath of Newcastle United's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea that his side had at least six other clubs for company in the fight for survival.
Newcastle have picked up two crucial wins in recent weeks - victories over Everton and Southampton now proving even more crucial in the battle to avoid the drop - but with Fulham finding form, the worry over relegation for the Magpies is deepening. .
Another defeat for Bruce's side - his ninth from the last 11 Premier League games - means they are right in the thick of things although Bruce is adamant they are not alone.
"There are seven or eight looking over their shoulder," he told reporters post-Chelsea.
"It is always the accumulation of points. There's still a long way to go. We certainly don't have enough at the moment so we need to put a couple of wins together."
But is that really the case? Assuming Newcastle are one of the eight teams Bruce is referring to, Arsenal would be included but having looked deeper at the table, our chief sports writer Lee Ryder doesn't agree with the view of the head coach.
Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Ryder said: "Who are these seven or eight teams? Burnley, and Brighton - definitely in there. Crystal Palace, 29 points, yes but after that? Baring in mind that West Brom and Sheffield United are gone, I think Southampton will get out of trouble, Wolves will get out of it on the back of the season they had last year and they're on 30 points now and they only need a couple of wins.
"Leeds until Sunday, I thought they'd push onto safety - they're on 32 points so they only need a couple more wins, and then there's Arsenal on 34 points who are more or less out of the equation.
"Fulham, Newcastle, Burnley, Brighton and maybe Palace are the teams are in it - there are probably five teams vying for that one spot - so seven or eight? I don't agree with that."
