4 Tense Fixtures For Newcastle United To Save Themselves

2. Queens Park Rangers - Away (May 16th)

At the start of April, Queen Park Rangers looked like they may have given themselves a decent chance of survival with an impressive 4-1 win at West Brom and a battling 3-3 draw against Aston Villa, but results since then have left Chris Ramsey's side four points shy of safety - and having played a game more. In truth QPR would have been all-but down months ago had it not been for the magnificent form of striker Charlie Austin, who has netted 14 times in the Premier League this season, and Newcastle should really target this game. However, the Magpies' away form is - to put it kindly - nothing short of abysmal. In their last four outings away at Manchester City, Everton, Sunderland and Liverpool, Newcastle have lost every single one of them - scoring zero and conceding 11 in the process. A few months ago this could have been a game Newcastle could really have targeted to ensure survival by nicking a win, but even if QPR are down by this match then it is hard to see John Carver finding a magic formula to turn around his side's embarrassing away form. QPR may have conceded 59 this season, the most in the Premier League, but Newcastle have let in 57 - the second worst. In this meeting of two of the division's worst sides, this game could merely come down to who is less hopeless on the day... Verdict: Score draw - 1-1. QPR could in theory be effectively, if not mathematically, down by the time Newcastle rock up in west London, but the Magpies lack the firepower to be classified as dead certs to claim all three points. Charlie Austin is likely to net for the home side, so Newcastle will need to score to secure the second of the two points that should be enough for survival.