Going into the match on Saturday, we find ourselves two places but one point above Huddersfield. On top of this we are also five places higher in the form table of the previous six games. We have reached that point in the season where it is almost the beginning of the end and confidence can certainly a part in all-important results. Out of the candidates for relegation, Huddersfield are a team who have arguably been dealt with a tougher run in than they would have hoped.

With regards to the past encounters at St. James’ Park against Huddersfield, statistics give off the impression that we are inconsistent against the Terriers but manage to pull off the win more often than not. More recent statistics still point towards a win for the Magpies as Huddersfield have the fourth worst away record in the league this season ahead of West Brom, Stoke and Brighton having racked up ten away league defeats which shows how much they have relied upon their home form in their fight to avoid relegation. One final good stat is that it was in this fixture last season that Dwight Gayle scored his first Newcastle goal.

Facts and Figures

All Competitions

Newcastle wins: 26

Huddersfield wins: 22

Draws: 15

League matches

Newcastle wins: 24

Huddersfield wins: 21

Draws: 14

League matches at St. James’ Park

Newcastle wins: 13

Huddersfield wins: 9

Draws: 7

Previous ten (all competitions)

Newcastle wins: 4 (18 goals)

Draws: 4

Huddersfield wins: 2 (12 goals)

Biggest wins (in this fixture)

Newcastle United 6 - 0 Huddersfield (06/09/1950)

Our biggest win at St. James’ Park against Huddersfield came in the early days of a pretty good season for the Toon and with the legend Jackie Milburn at the peak of his powers at the time, Newcastle racked up 18 league wins in a fourth placed finish. In addition, the 1950s was the decade when we experienced three FA Cup wins, the first of which coming in that 1950/51 season.

Biggest defeat (in this fixture)

Newcastle United 0 – 4 Huddersfield (01/10/1932)

As we go into this fixture, I am feeling the very same way as I did before the Southampton match a few weeks ago. If we get the win that is expected of the team, it will work wonders as we head into our final seven games. I know that Southampton played very poorly in Mauricio Pellegrino’s final match in charge of the Saints but if we play with the same mentality and Huddersfield play in struggling fashion like they have done in a lot of their away matches this season, I will not accept anything less than the three points on Saturday.

In terms of other fixtures with the teams that are currently in close proximity to us, Crystal Palace are at home to Liverpool, Brighton are at home to Leicester, Swansea will make the difficult trip to Old Traff

ord and a relegation six-pointer takes place at the London Stadium between West Ham and Southampton. If all results go our way this Easter weekend, we will be seven points clear of the relegation zone but that will mean that West Ham will beat Southampton which runs the risk of the Hammers over-taking us in the table if we fail to beat Huddersfield.