Newcastle United supporters are used to crazy things happening at their club, although this season well and truly takes the biscuit. Firstly, there was the 5-1 thrashing of Sunderland in the derby, before Chris Hughton was axed shortly afterwards.
Alan Pardew’s appointment as his replacement did nothing to appease the Toon Army who have now seen Andy Carroll leave for Liverpool and replaced by Shefki Kuqi, a 34-year-old Finn who is essentially a Championship striker.
However, the mood must be high after coming back from four goals down to draw 4-4 with Arsenal on Saturday in what was an incredible game. Pardew wants his team to be focused from the first minute onwards at Ewood Park.
“The next two or three games, you are either going to get away from it (relegation trouble) and get yourselves maybe fighting for Europe, or you are going to find yourselves in a real dogfight, which I think it is going to be” he said.
Blackburn are also in a similar position, with Rovers level on points with Newcastle having played a game more. Last Saturday’s 4-3 defeat at Wigan exposed some defensive frailties that Steve Kean will have been eager to amend this week.
He said: “It’s a pivotal game for where we can both finish – the next four or five games are a big part of our season.
“We’ve had some really tough games, and have done well.
“But these are the games that matter, and we’re going to need to win two of them.”
Match odds:
Blackburn, 23/20 with stan James
Draw, 12/5 with bet365
Newcastle, 13/5 with Paddy Power