Up and Down With Newcastle United

So Kevin Keegan finally has his first Newcastle win of the new millenium, but is it a sign of better things to come or is it just pulling the wool further over Geordie eyes.

Last weeks 2-0 win over Fulham at St James' Park was a very timely boost for a side who hadn't won a game since King Kev rode back into toon.

Newcastle had been staring relegation squarely in the face, but four points from their last two games (the other a 1-1 draw at Birmingham) has seen them rise to 13th in the EPL. They are by no means save however as another 8 games without a win would almost certainly see them drop off the end of the earth.

Big Sam Allardyce may not have been setting the toon on fire with his style of play,but his side were grinding out results before he was asked to leave by the Magpies board. Did he really deserve to go? Looking back now you would have to say no!

I'll admit I championed the return of Keegan to the Newcastle hot seat, but in reality he has failed dismally. That doesn't necessarily mean he won't prove to be the Messiah next season, but simply put, the best person to get the best out of Sam Allardyce's players would have been Sam Allardyce himself.

Had Newcastle gone down this season (I now believe they won't) the sacking of Allardyce would have gone down as one of the biggest blunders in football history. Okay the Newcastle fans didn't like the style of play he had introduced, but it was better than football in the Championship.

There are signs however that Keegan is moulding his influence on the team. The second half at Birmingham and the win over Fulham left me impressed by the geordies performance and I hope it continues.

Funnily enough the return of better times at St James' Park, has coincided with the return to goal scoring form of Michael Owen. The England striker was suffering as much as anyone during the Magpies horrific mid-season spell but is looking a lot fitter and sharper now than at any time during his Newcastle career.

Expect a few more goals from Owen this season. Mark Viduka's return to the side offers Newcastle a different route to goal. Arguably Owen will take most chances swung his way but Viduka just needs the ball played into feet. On his day he is a genius, and as he proved against Fulham he can create a goal from any position.

I'd be surprised if the big Australian and Keegan had not exchanged words at some point. Viduka is not shy about sharing his feelings and in the stressful environment of a struggling football club there are bound to be bust ups. Viduka has laughed off the speculation and I do too.

The recent form of Obafemi Martins can also be linked to the recent success on Tyneside. He may be playing slightly out of position, but he is playing his heart out for the black and white faithful. Nothing comes more highly regarded by the St James' crowd than wearing your heart on your sleeve.

So what of this formation forcing Martins out wide on the left? Well it's typically Keegan I'd say. All about getting forward and spreading the ball to all corners of attack. With Viduka on the other side and Owen in the middle, it is on paper a frightening attack.

We will have to see them come up against a better side before we can properly judge the formation but It looks like a return to the true Keegan style. You can score as many goals as you like because we'll score more. Fantastic!

Strangely enough Newcastle come up against another side with this mentality on Sunday. Newcastle United travel down to London to meet Tottenham Hotspur. The Capital has never been the Magpies favourite hunting ground but it's essential they come away with something to keep the momentum going.

Spurs are no strangers to draws this season including some high scoring ones. I wouldn't rule out a 2-2 draw at the end of this one.

This is followed by a must win game at home to fellow strugglers Reading. Reading are also looking safe for another year. But with both teams still scrambling for those last few points to secure safety it won't be easy. Reading are not Fulham and will take a lot more breaking down.

Steve Coppel has them playing some great football and they tend to punch above their weight. A few high scoring drubbings however have affected their season. They do score goals against almost anyone so I can't see Newcastle keeping them out. We will leave this one up to King Kev's trusty logic.

4 points in these two games would take Newcastle to safety and with a trip to high flying Portsmouth on the horizon I'd say they need them sooner rather than later.

The Magpies finish the season with Sunderland (H), West Ham (A), Chelsea (H) and end with Everton (A).

Would be nice to secure their EPL safety with a home win over bitter rivals Sunderland not only because they are bitter rivals but because there aren't going to be too many points taken from the last three games.

Newcastle will survive this season and probably finish where they currently sit in the table. Somewhere between relegation relief and mid table obscurity.

As for next season well the future is looking brighter and I can't wait to see what Keegan has in store.

After all at least it's Old Trafford and Anfield, not Oakwell or Selhurst Park!