The most important match that remains of this Newcastle United season | OneFootball

Around two and a half months of this Newcastle United season still to go.

What do you think is the most important match NUFC that remains?

For me, there is one Newcastle United game that stands out a mile.

Leave aside the Cup Final, I am talking about the Premier League and our Champions League hopes (and fears…).

So with eleven Premier League matches left to play, which one do you think I mean?

It is Monday night at West Ham.

This is massive.

Results didn’t go our way on Saturday with Forest, Villa and Brighton all winning, though Man City and Fulham lost in two of those games. With today seeing Chelsea v Leicester, Spurs v Bournemouth and Man U v Arsenal.

This is how the Premier League table looks on Sunday morning ahead of today’s matches:

Now if all three games go against us, it would leave the top ten looking like this:

70 Liverpool

57 Arsenal

51 Forest

49 Chelsea

47 Man City

46 Bournemouth

46 Brighton

45 Villa

44 Newcastle

42 Fulham

As I said, this is the worst case scenario after today.

Even in those circumstances though, a win for Newcastle at West Ham would then see Eddie Howe’s side back up to sixth and level on points with fifth place Man City, two points behind Chelsea, four adrift of Forest.

Fair to say as well that whilst Newcastle United have had their toughest part of the Premier League schedule, up against Man City, Forest and Liverpool in their last three games.

Other clubs up around the top having far easier schedules, especially Chelsea. After only two wins in their last 10 PL games, Chelsea last time played rock bottom Southampton at home, then today they face 19th placed Leicester at Stamford Bridge.

Next weekend though there is Arsenal v Chelsea and Man City v Brighton, whilst others chasing the Champions League places also don’t have straightforward games. As for Villa, if Newcastle won their two games in hand they would be five points ahead of them.

This is really still all in Newcastle United’s hands and a win at West Ham would put us in a great position, especially when you look at what follows.

An enforced FA Cup break means that after the League Cup Final, it will be a 17 days break for Newcastle’s non-internationals. Whilst for those on international duty, still a full week back with their teammates to prepare for Brentford at home on Wednesday 2 April.

No matches can be taken for granted in the Premier League but if Newcastle can win at West Ham, you then look at those next four matches in April and you have to think a massive opportunity for NUFC to get into a dominant position where the Champions League places (top five) are concerned. One away match at all but already relegated Leicester and home games against Brentford, Man U and Palace, none of who have a great deal left to play for in the Premier League. Man U’s focus all on the Europa League and Palace the FA Cup, as things currently stand.

The remaining Newcastle United match schedule:

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final Sky Sports

Wednesday 2 April – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm)

Monday 7 April – Leicester v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 13 April – Newcastle v Man U (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 16 April – Newcastle v Palace (7.30pm)

Saturday 19 April – Villa v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 26 April – Newcastle v Ipswich (3pm)

Saturday 3 May – Brighton v Newcastle TBC

Saturday 10 May – Newcastle v Chelsea TBC

Sunday 18 May – Arsenal v Newcastle TBC

Sunday 25 May – Newcastle v Everton (4pm)