Wolves give NUFC huge boost in bid for survival

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one nervously watching as Fulham put more and more pressure on, looking for a goal that would move them out of the drop zone and put Newcastle in it.

The story lines just wrote themselves and I was waiting for ex-Toon man Aleksander Mitrovic to net a late winner or former Sunderland striker Josh Maja to condemn the Magpies to the bottom three.

Instead it was the largely frustrating Adama Traore that blasted the ball home from a tight angle to send Wolverhampton and Tyneside into raptures.

Once the celebrations finished and Wolves were able to see the game out, the enormity of that moment became more apparent. Despite being absolutely turgid all season and fully deserving of a place in next season’s Sky Bet Championship, Newcastle have a three point advantage with two games in hand.

By the time Fulham next take the field, United could be nine points clear of the Cottagers having played the same amount of games, this is an opportunity we can not afford to pass us by.

It all comes down to Burnley, the biggest game of our season. If we were to bottle it at Turf Moor and then head into a game with top four candidates West Ham United we would give Fulham yet another chance to reel us in.

Combine Fulham’s sudden nose dive (lost four on the bounce) with the return of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint Maximin to the side and things may just start to be looking up for us.

However, with Newcastle United; caution is always advised and the saying ‘it’s the hope that kills’ often rings true at St. James’ Park, take the takeover situation last summer for example.

Newcastle know their job, they know what is at stake and they know that they have the upper hand. Can they mess it up from here? Absolutely.