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The two matches that could have saved Newcastle United’s season – opinion

Newcastle United had been enjoying a promising opening half of the Premier League season, with Steve Bruce’s sitting well clear of the relegation zone, flirting with mid-table.

But a horrific injury crisis has exposed how the Magpies were picking points up unsustainably through their goal-scoring defenders and also that the forwards were not pulling their weight in terms of finding the back of the net. However, two matches against Rochdale in the third round of the FA Cup could be highly beneficial to Newcastle United’s season.

In the opening leg in Rochdale, Newcastle took a one-goal lead through Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron, who having previously not scored in almost a year, beat the keeper to score his second in five matches. Since that point the diminutive playmaker has not looked back, scoring his second Premier League goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers to earn the Magpies a draw in challenging circumstances. Almiron then scored in his third consecutive match when he scored Newcastle’s third goal in the 4-1 win over Rochdale at St James’ Park. Having previously been under an immense amount of pressure, the winger’s confidence must now be sky high as he is finally realising his potential.

Meanwhile, Joelinton suffered a torrid afternoon in the first leg of the FA Cup third round, berated by the Newcastle supporters after he failed to find the back of the net against the League One side. However, he had a look of pure relief when he fired in the final goal of the replay to end a 20-game drought, which ran all the way back to the third game of the Premier League season. He will hope like Almiron, that scoring will help the Brazilian rediscover some momentum.

Two FA Cup third round ties may have transformed the fortunes of Newcastle’s season as their forwards are up and running, beginning in to score with the frequency expected of them. Bruce will be hoping their good fortune in front of goal continues when Newcastle play Oxford United in the fourth round.

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