Newcastle United were handed an unexpected lifeline as they made their way home from Villa Park.
Indeed, just as Eddie Howe's battling Magpies were digesting a tough defeat at the hands of Villa news of another shock defeat was filtering through the airwaves. And by the time fans were halfway up the motorway there were cheers as AFC Bournemouth's last gasp victory at Tottenham Hotspur ensured that it was effectively as we were in the Premier League.
But while Howe will have been relieved to get a favour from his old club, he will also no doubt rue the chance Newcastle had to pull away from Spurs in the table. Yet things could have been much worse on Saturday and while the alarming defeat in the second city was one thing, Newcastle's three-point lead over faltering Tottenham is still in place plus that game in hand.
