The thing that no Newcastle United fans are prepared to say ahead of this next challenge | OneFootball

Newcastle United fans facing the final stretch of the season.

The season ends on Sunday 25 May 2025.

Which means Newcastle United fans have 30 days and five more matches that will decide our fate.

Ahead of the next challenge, there is one thing that no Newcastle United fans are prepared to say.

United face Ipswich at St James’ Park tomorrow.

Yet I haven’t heard any NUFC supporter say what is really on our minds.

That is football fans for you, terrified of jinxing things.

Let me explain.

I think Saturday is a two-part mission.

Firstly, Newcastle United have to win against Ipswich.

Secondly, Newcastle United have to score as many goals as possible against Ipswich.

It is this second part I was referring to when I said about jinxing things.

It isn’t entitlement or arrogance, it is just plain fact.

Newcastle have to make sure they beat Ipswich, get the first goal and then another to help secure it, as quickly as possible hopefully, then go on to score as many as possible.

If you don’t believe me, just look at the Premier League table and the matches each of the Champions League contenders still have left to play (see below)…

This is how the Premier League table looks on the morning of Friday 25 April 2025:

I think there is every chance that we will see a similar situation at the end of the season, four or five of the Champions League contenders with very little to choose between them, quite possibly ending the season level on points with rivals.

Aston Villa are the odd one out, they have only a +5 goal difference.

However, for NUFC, very little to separate themselves and the other three contenders on GD, with Man City (+23), Newcastle United (+18), Chelsea (+18) and Forest (+14).

Chelsea are home to Everton and hopefully the scouse mackems can get at least a draw, however, at the very worst, Everton tend to concede very few goals and so even if Chelsea win, they hopefully won’t improve their GD by much.

In contrast, Newcastle United I think HAVE to seriously improve theirs. I am not taking anything for granted on Saturday but I think by the final whistle, I would hope NUFC are challenging Man City on GD, who are currently five goals better off. Whilst I would hope and expect we will also end Saturday at least a few goals ahead of Chelsea, whilst at the same time putting more serious distance down to Forest who are currently four goals worse off than United.

Obviously there is no way they are going to admit it but I bet for sure that Eddie Howe and his staff are thinking the same way.

It was totally understandable when Newcastle eased off in the wins over Leicester, Man U and Palace, due to key games in close succession and a small squad, ‘only’ improving our GD by +11 across the three matches.

However, this won’t be the case on Saturday.

Eddie Howe is back and with eight days between Ipswich at home and Brighton away, I think Newcastle United will be full throttle until the final whistle, though of course at the same time not taking any unnecessary risks.

I am aware that this can always come back to bite you on the backside but fact remains and I am only being honest. Whilst usually like the rest of you I would in most cases say before a game, I hope for whatever result but would take a 1-0 if offered now. On this occasion though, no I wouldn’t take a 1-0 to Newcastle against Ipswich if offered now.

I think it is simply reality that Newcastle need to increase their GD by as many as possible, just in case we need it following the tougher games (at least on paper) that follow this Ipswich one.

The remaining matches for the Champions League chasing clubs:

Man City 61 points GD +23

Wolves (H), Southampton (A), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)

Forest 60 points GD +14

Brentford (H), Palace (A), Leicester (H), West Ham (A), Chelsea (H)

Newcastle United 59 points GD +18

Ipswich (H), Brighton (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Everton (H)

Chelsea 57 points GD +18

Everton (H), Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), Man U (H), Forest (A)

Villa 57 points GD +5