We HAVE To Beat Sunderland & Put Barca Behind Us

As bad as a 7-2 defeat was, it is now history.

Instead of crying over spilt milk we need to taste the cream against the Sunderland upstarts in Sunday's derby match. It's an absolute must win match,

A sour and bitter taste awaits if we lose

The Sunderland game comes with a double edge sword.

Beat the Mackem's and all of a sudden the pain of the Barcelona result will fade.

Lose, and the tsunami of criticism of Eddie and this seasons performances will be overwhelming.

After an uninspiring PL season, questions marks of the summer signings, virtually no chance of qualifying for the CL, and now a 7-2 defensive horror show against Barcelona - emotions are nearing boiling point in many fans.

A defeat by Sunderland would see the temperature hit that point and send a hot burst of steam blasting through the club. It will burn more than a few fingers for sure.

That's why losing on Sunday is simply unthinkable.

In my 60 odd years supporting the club I've been party to plenty of awful results and dire situations surrounding the club - and I have a feeling that not taking all three points against the Mackem's could be right up there with the worst of them.

Expectations crushed and flattened

It's one thing being in a bad situation that get's worse.

We've had that down the decades culminating in the debacles under Ashley.

PIF gave us hope, and then Eddie Howe's heroics gave us genuine expectation.

Two CL qualifications, two cup finals, and our first domestic trophy in 70 years.

That expectation reached a crescendo at the end of last season with a rumoured bursting pot of transfer cash available to take us to that holy grail 'next level'.

That crescendo is now a crushed and flattened note that can hardly be heard.

Crushed expectation is often harder to bear than more doom and gloom.

And that's where many Newcastle fans are emotionally now.

We just HAVE to win

I genuinely fear for the reaction if we get beat.

Not just on social media... but also inside SJP.

The home crowd have been ultra patient and understanding of Eddie's issues with the new signings and injury list that have made a packed fixture list hard to navigate.

But, there have been rumblings of late in the home defeats, and those rumblings might turn into an eruption if Sunderland win. And, that could trigger even bigger eruptions.

Howe would Eddie react? How would PIF react? How would top players like Tonali, Gordon, Bruno, Tino and Hall react?

Let's face it - they all now know after last summer's 'turned down' target fiasco that NUFC are way behind the top five in the pecking order.

This season has nailed on that we are still very much a project - and a project that has slipped behind schedule. That realisation could be magnified if we lose on Sunday.

High emotions can lead to knee jerk reactions and decisions; and not always for the good.

There definitely needs to be an in depth analysis of where and why this season hasn't met expectations - but that needs to take place calmly at the end of the season, hopefully after we have qualified for at least the Conference.

Not in a riot of emotions after a defeat by Sunderland.

That is why this really is a MUST win game.

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