There are certainly no half measures when it comes to Newcastle United. The Magpies look like a force to be reckoned with one week; the next week they look like favourites to suffer the dreaded drop to the Championship.
Granted, not many fans genuinely believed Steve McClaren’s side would dominate the current Premier League title holders, Chelsea, and leave Stamford Bridge with all three points in their last outing, but a spirited and whole-hearted performance was the very minimum expectation.
Instead, Newcastle slumped to a Premier League high tenth defeat on the road and now boast the worst defensive record in the league, with a goal difference of -22. Without question, it would have been even worse if it had not been for Rob Elliot, who has been in excellent form of late and is in line to be Newcastle’s Player of the Season.
Steve McClaren will be looking to put an end to Newcastle’s away day hoodoo at the Britannia on Wednesday when the Magpies take on eighth place Stoke City.
Ahead of the fixture, here is a look back at Newcastle’s last five meetings with the Potters: