Newcastle United supporters can be buoyed by Chris Wood’s stellar record against newly-promoted sides ahead of today’s Premier League showdown against Brentford.
The Magpies travel to London for the second time in seven days knowing a win against Thomas Frank’s side could see them climb as high as 14th in the table.
Even more crucially, victory will propel Newcastle above the Bees - despite having two games in hand - and plunge their opponents into relegation turmoil.
However, one cause for concern on Tyneside is the form of Wood since his £25million move from Burnley last month.
The New Zealand international is yet to score in a black-and-white shirt and, with each passing week, the burden becomes heavier.
A positive stat for Toon fans is that Wood has bagged an impressive nine goals in 13 outings against newly-promoted clubs in the top flight.
The 30-year-old also scored the opener in Burnley’s 3-1 victory against Brentford earlier in the season.
Some will argue that this stat highlights the level of Wood and how he is unable to perform against the elite sides.
A key footnote is that Newcastle signed him to do a job in the short term. If Wood can nick a couple of goals - in vital games like this against relegation rivals - before the end of the season to ensure survival, that hefty price tag would have been justified tenfold.
Newcastle’s goals have not dried up - they are simply being distributed evenly among the side.
Six of the club’s last seven goals were by different goalscorers and, eventually, that responsibility must be shared by the man leading the line.
If the history books are anything to go by, his chance to be the hero could come today.
We want to hear your thoughts, so LOG IN and leave your comment below
