Paullow

Plenty of early goals in the 3pm's, especially in the Championship. Bristol Rovers an early goal down unfortunately.

Just looking at the table, while it's still a long shot, especially with Bruce, and they would need at least 10 points from their last 4 games, probably 12, which isn't likely, but, with Sheff Utd stuttering, Blackburn being poor for ages, Middlesbrough with only one point from their last 3 games, and behind here, WBA are only 5 points off the playoffs and could ask a few questions if results continue to go for them today. Hopefully Forest will beat them on Sky tonight to effectively end any tiny hope.

I was just going to ask what everyone's thoughts were on Boro. Whether you'd like them up for a more local match than say Luton, or whether you might want another season of being the only Premier League club in the region so the gap will be much bigger if / when they do come up, whether they are completely insignificant to you, or whether you don't like them at all. I see Stiffler certainly has his opinion . I don't really mind them to be honest, and probably would want them back up at some point soon, just for a more local / Northern side up there, but maybe once we are more established, just to alleviate the chances of any 'top dogs' stuff their fans might try to manufacture. It'll be a huge blow if they were to lose today.

In terms of how the table looked, ignoring other emotions like the 4-0 drubbing of Leicester, or Watfords late equaliser, at what point would you consider the table looking at its absolute worst? No wins in 14 was abysmal and 1 win in 20 not much better, but thankfully I don't think we were ever more than 3 points off 17th, which is pretty crazy, and significant. Burnley have had a number of games in hand throughout the season, but have never really been well clear of us.

Well of course, the thread is literally 'Sunderland', a place to discuss Sunderland, and it's a huge game for them, just like Port Vale vs Bristol Rovers is a huge game for the Gas lads who post on here, and no doubt various other matches at this stage of the season.

Well, a degree of relativity of course, but in terms of the league, with one likely to be 7th and the other 4th heading into it, and the team in 4th fairly likely to be 7th if they lose, it's pretty big.

Plymouth vs Sunderland live on Sky on Monday is massive. Sunderland still have to play Rotherham as well who will almost certainly still be looking for points there. They'll likely get in the playoffs, but it's an exciting end in terms of both automatics and playoffs. It'll take 80 odd points to get in the playoffs which is crazy.

Fuck sake, could you credit it

What's the chances of another injury time winner for Sunderland, well 8/1, but you wouldn't rule it out.

Elliot again. 1-0 Rovers!

Mainly jealousy I would have thought. I mean most people under 20/25 would probably consider Leicester a bigger club than Newcastle which seems strange to me when we've got the bigger overall history, were challenging at the top end when I was growing up in the mid nineties with a 'big club' aura, and also Newcastle being a UK 'core city' rather than one that gets overshadowed by the likes of nearby Birmingham and Nottingham. My mindset maybe will change in the coming years if / when we push on, but it was annoying while we were yo-yoing and targeting 17th year in year out, when a traditionally smaller club were coming from nowhere to achieve great things, even if was via more proper and commendable sustained development rather than overnight investment. Obviously someone has to win the trophies each year, but I was quite content with the 'bigger' clubs claiming them to more maintain the status quo.

Fuck sake. Was hoping for extra time. 2-1 Leicester - it will probably mean that they have Europe on their mind when they play Everton twice as well (not that I'm bothered about that from a Newcastle perspective, just general). Plus, while maybe not the same now because we could genuinely be going for cups in the coming years, whereas 7 months ago it was so bleak, but it would still be annoying if Leicester won yet another recent trophy, their 5th in the PL era, while we are still waiting for one for more than 50 years.

What's his song?

Obviously slightly different circumstances given we had Bruce at the start, and then solid investment in January, but you'll know first hand that we literally went from 1 win in 20 (22 inc the cups) only taking 12 points, to then winning 6 of the next 7 out of nowhere, so it can be done, even if very, very unlikely.

Mainly because they had arguably their easiest remaining fixture today, and blew it. Norwich had lost 6 of their last 7, or 2 points from 24, but they couldn't take advantage. I also think most are looking at it from a NUFC perspective and that it's over in that case, maybe an outside chance they can still catch Everton, but that doesn't really affect us.

Indeed, but don't let geordie_b catch you posting stuff like that.

Commentator - "pints will be poured for Pukki on Tyneside...", well some maybe, not those more fixed on Everton going down.

I've not been watching, but it looks a deserved win for Brentford. 14 shots to 3, 6 on target to 1 etc. A goal and assist for Toney - would anyone have him back?

Should have been game over there. Good break by Norwich but not taken advantage of. Still time, but a Burnley win is unlikely from here, and they really had to win it.

West Ham are playing now, losing, and that's good news for Tottenham.

True. Fancy posting about other teams on an other games today thread.

It's been quite a good second half this. End to end stuff, and a decent flow. Very surprising as it looked like one of the worst match ups in the entire league on paper.

It looks like a brilliant weekend for Tottenham with Man Utd, Arsenal, and even Wolves losing, plus West Ham currently behind. They arguably had the toughest match of the five as well, and they were the only team to win, especially as West Ham are now 2-0 down.

Michael Oliver with his Toon hat on there not dishing out a second yellow

Turning the screw a little bit here Burnley. Hopefully Norwich can hold on until half time.