The pressure will be lifted if Eddie Howe can guide Newcastle United to victory over Sunderland.
The two sides are set to meet in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, in what will be the first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016.
That means that it is Eddie Howe‘s first as Newcastle United manager, and it comes at a time when he is under more pressure than he ever has been before on Tyneside.
That pressure is largely coming from the media, with Toon fans united behind the man who has achieved so much since his appointment at St James’ Park.
But Howe is going through a difficult period right now. His side have been knocked out of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, while they are suddenly struggling in the Premier League.
Newcastle sit ninth after three straight defeats, and it is looking like a gloomy January with Manchester City and Aston Villa up next in the league.
Before then, the Magpies head to the Stadium Of Light for a derby unlike any other. It is a massive game for Howe – in fact, it is a must-win.
Defeat to Championship side Sunderland is unthinkable, and pundit Chris Sutton believes that Howe could suddenly be in trouble if that were to happen.
Chris Sutton thinks Newcastle fans could turn on Eddie Howe
Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton admitted that he thinks some Newcastle fans will begin to turn on Howe if his side lose to Sunderland in the FA Cup.
“It’s an enormous game for Eddie Howe, I really do think that,” he said.
“There is this great debate going on at the moment about Eddie Howe’s position, they are not on a good run, we know that. Ninth in the Premier League, the Liverpool defeat I think everybody expected, but what was more damaging was losing at home to Nottingham Forest and away to Luton.
“I think this is an extreme game for Eddie Howe. Because of the nature of this game, I have always felt that he has the backing of the Newcastle support but losing a derby game against a team from the division below, and I suspect if they do end up losing that there will be an element of the Newcastle support who do question whether he is the right man to carry on. It’s that big.”
Eddie Howe must triumph over Sunderland
Personally, I will not turn on Howe if we do lose against Sunderland. And I would like to think the majority fans will feel the same.
The job he has done has been remarkable, and a dodgy run of form does not change that. Yes, a defeat against Sunderland on Saturday would be absolutely heartbreaking, but it would be one that Howe can bounce back from.
But he will know that it is a must-win game. It will give Newcastle fans bragging rights over their rivals, while it could be the catalyst for a strong second half of the season.
The Magpies are in need of rejuvenation, and they could get that if they beat Sunderland at the Stadium Of Light.
If they lose, Sutton thinks Toon fans will suddenly be asking questions about Howe. I would like to think he is wrong there, but a loss in the derby is not worth pondering right now.
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