Newcastle are intent on making relegation as painful as possible
It's bad enough to get relegated. But Newcastle appear intent on making their drop from the Premier League as painful as possible.
The Magpies entered Saturday's clash with Norwich needing at least a draw. The Canaries held the last safety spot and Newcastle, second from the bottom, could get even with them on points with a win. But even a draw would keep them three points back with a match in hand, which is a plenty reasonable gap to make up with eight matches left in the season.
Unfortunately for Newcastle, Norwich scored first, but Aleksandar Mitrovic equalized in the 72nd minute and all was well again. The draw that they needed, at a minimum, was back in order.
It lasted three minutes. That's all of the time it took the Canaries to score and go back in front and Newcastle were screwed again.
Newcastle should have had a penalty, but the referee waved play on. Newcastle looked doomed. A great chance went wide. Because they were doomed. A beautiful cross just missed its intended target. Doomed.
Then a miracle -- a penalty.
This is how Newcastle was able to equalize: https://t.co/GlCXcBR9XO
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 2, 2016
Mitrovic stepped up, telegraphed where he was going to hit it and then struck the ball so hard and right into the bottom corner that it didn't matter. It was a goal, Newcastle were level and they had that much-needed draw again.
Newcastle were still on the front foot after their 87th minute equalizer and if anyone was going to score a winner, it looked like it would be them. So of course Norwich came back the other way and scored two minutes into stoppage time, thanks to a mess of Magpies defending. The Canaries had done it. Or maybe Newcastle had done it to themselves.
GOOOOOOOAAALLL!!! Olsson wins it for @NorwichCityFC late. #NCFC #BPLonNBC https://t.co/QCJw0hpAD5
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 2, 2016
Now Newcastle sit second from the bottom, but a daunting six points from safety. Even with a match in hand, the Magpies look just about done. Maybe Benitez is a miracle worker and Newcastle can stay up. Maybe, just maybe, everything we think we know is a lie. But probably not.
Newcastle look done for and on their way to the Championship. And somehow, the Magpies are making it even more painful than it has to be by breaking hearts and defying logic on their way down. Doomed, indeed.
