Newcastle United are not broken

Newcastle United back in action.

Wolves on Sunday.

Things can change very quickly, especially with so many competitions, so many matches.

In my lifetime of supporting Newcastle United, I have never previously experienced my team still fighting on four fronts as we head into February, even if one of those is now hanging by a thread.

The result was a big blow against Manchester City but Newcastle United are not broken.

They just need to pick themselves up and go again.

These past five matches in a two period, I am sure that we would all, if we were honest, have taken four wins and a defeat, just not that defeat…

At the end of the day though, or rather the end of that fortnight, the fact is that Manchester City always looked the toughest test of the five games.

The reality is that Newcastle United could have won all five of these matches, also reality is that in a parallel universe they might have won none of the five.

A heady mixture of commitment, character, quality, fine margins and indeed, yes, some luck, brought us those wins over Burnley, Palace, Leeds and Bournemouth, taking United top six in the Premier League and into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Even though not at our best for much of these last two wins, the character, commitment and never giving up, were extraordinary.

Against Manchester City the scales simply tipped the other way when it came to fine margins and luck, as well as the finishing. The woodwork denying Newcastle twice and fatigue clearly impacting as the match went on, after the games that had gone before, yet our players kept giving it their all…and more.

This is a team that plays for the manager, the club, their teammates and of course, the fans.

Manchester City got lucky in many ways, Leeds and Bournemouth didn’t. That is football.

A very tough and intense period of five games in quick succession and Newcastle United clearly came out in front, overall.

Newcastle United are not broken, they lost a match which they didn’t deserve to.

A convincing performance and win against Wolves, will see Newcastle United sixth at worst, very likely fifth, possibly fourth, after the weekend’s matches.

Everything still to play for and that continues on Sunday.