The Newcastle United Blog

With two games to play and Newcastle on 42 points we will need a win in at least one of those games to ensure we don’t finish up with our lowest points total ever in the Premiership – 44 points in both the 2004-2005 and 1997-1998 seasons.

Blackburn have had another solid season under Blackburn manager Mark Hughes and are two places above us but 5 points ahead - so if we can win - there is an outside chance we could overtake them. Both teams will miss out on a European place next season.

Let’s hope the team can give a spirited performance against Blackburn and register a good win - the home crowd is certainly deserving of that.

The two doubts for the game are captain Scott Parker and Nicky Butt and Glenn Roeder says they are both 50-50.

Scott Parker and Nicky Butt training on Thursday

Here’s what Glenn Roeder told Newcastle World TV yesterday:

“They both trained on Thursday and we only hope their is no reaction. Scott has had his ankle injury for a few weeks now whereas Nicky picked up his in training last weekend. Given that Emre, Damien Duff and Antoine Sibierski are now out for the season, we really need both players fit.”

Glenn Roeder certainly needs a good result tomorrow – if only to quell the growing rumors that Sam Allardyce may be taking over as manager at the end of the season. This extra pressure has built up since Big Sam surprisingly resigned from Bolton last Sunday.

It’s also interesting that Newcastle have never lost their last home home game of the season for 16 years and it’s a chance to register their second double of the season (we beat Blackburn 3-1 at Ewood Park on 9th December with Martins scoring a brace and Steven Taylor getting the other goal - oh the memories).

Our only double of the season to date are the exciting wins against Tottenham Hotspur.

We have but one win in the last nine premiership games and have failed to score in seven of them – but with both Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi back – and maybe even starting – we have to believe a good win is a definite possibility.

I suppose a draw would be adequate (though disappointing) but a defeat would be catastrophic – not only for the club - but specifically for Glenn Roeder’s tenure at the club.