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The mission was easy. 3 points against a team that was relegated a month ago and has the third lowest points total in Premier League history at this point of the season. Newcastle United have in recent times played their worst matches against the bottom clubs in the league and it was today that McClaren-era Newcastle United decided to show back up. Nevermind that the makems ended up defeating Chelsea. We had it all to play for and we didn't turn up.
The cliche is overused but it truly is the "same old Newcastle". Leaving decisions too late in the season (hiring McClaren... firing McClaren...) and not doing the job when it's so very clear. Bringing Rafa Benitez in was putting a dress on a pig... today, we finally couldn't get the dress on. We were still a pig and that's all there is to it.
When Rafa came in, you circled 3 of the 10 matches remaining and said "Newcastle United have it in their own hands. They play everyone around them." Getting 2 points from those three matches is how you get relegated. Now with one match left, we have to beat Tottenham and get a LOT of help if we're to stay up. On the day, it was a low-quality game between two low-quality sides. There's not much to say about it. The worst part is that our relatively expensive team couldn't even get past Aston Villa. This Aston Villa side who lost 11 in a row. Who have one of the WORST points records in PL history. And the Aston Villa that took us down the last time.
I'm not even going to get into the Aston Villa supporters (who have reacted with all of the class they did the last time) because it's all our fault. We just had to score one goal and we couldn't do it. I hate this club and I hate this sport.