Breathing Space.

TIM KRUL says that Newcastle United are desperate for “breathing space” going into the Magpies’ six-pointer with Reading.

But first they must come out of their Premier League “dogfight” with the Royals with all three points.

Indeed, with tough contests to come against Chelsea and Spurs after their crunch relegation battles with Reading and Aston Villa, the Magpies need to start picking up points.

Especially with the Europa League about to kick in again next month, meaning more fragmented time on the training ground for Alan Pardew’s troops.

The omens are good against Reading with Newcastle winning every single one of their seven meetings with the Berkshire side down the decades.

Krul told the Chronicle: “We’re in a dogfight – especially with the way other results have gone for us.

“We want to be looking back up the table, and to do that we need a few wins under our belt.


“That’ll give us some breathing space.”

United stopped the rot with a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road to bank their first point of 2013.

But they are still in the mire.

Krul said: “We need to kick on from here and beat Reading.

“It’s one of those things where we are.

“We’ve had injuries, but we’re not going to make excuses – they’re in the past now. The spirit is good and we must keep moving forward.”

Krul, though, detected a change of luck in Norfolk against the Canaries.

He said: “We could’ve lost in the last second, and then things would’ve been different.

“That was a bit of luck, and we needed it. Last season everything went for us.”

And he added: “It’s important to win against Reading.

“We’ll have 52,000 Geordies behind us screaming for a win.”

 

Has it ever occured to anyone else that there are never 52,000 Geordies at SJP ?

A 52,000 crowd is a bit of a rarity, and it always includes a sold out away end. We occasionally get about 48,000 toon supporters, but apparently that doesn't have the required ring to it.

 

Hardly what you'd call a sold out away end.

 

I'm sure the players hate having to do all of this press as much as we hate having to listen to it. You are judged by your deeds but I'm sure the players know that. They just need to get out and get 3 points on Saturday. I couldn't care one jot if they are the ugliest 3 points we ever get and will settle for a tense 1-0. Another clean sheet would be nice and give them a bit of confidence.