The focus now for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United is solely on survival following a hectic January transfer window.
The Magpies remain a point adrift of safety, and could find themselves bottom of the Premier League if Burnley capitalise on their two games in hand.
However, the mood on Tyneside has been improved by the arrival of five signings in an uncharacterstically busy window at St James' Park.
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Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood are expected to become fixtures in the starting lineup in the coming months.
Newcastle fans are pleased with the business conducted by the new owners, but how is their recruitment viewed by their rivals?
February is expected to be a crucial month at the bottom of the table, and ChronicleLive spoke with reporters covering Burnley, Norwich City and Watford for the inside view on the relegation battle.
Burnley
Sean Dyche's side currently sit bottom of the pile, and were left frustrated by a goalless home draw with Watford on Saturday.
The Clarets still hold two games in hand of Newcastle, and could move out of the bottom three with positive results.
However, Burnley have only won once all season in the Premier League, and there is a fear among supporters this could be the year where Dyche's side succumb to the drop.
Alex James, Burnley writer for LancashireLive, said: "I think there's a realism among them that this could be the year that Burnley could drop, given they've only won one game and they are three points from safety in what looks like it will be a three from four battle at the bottom.
"It will all come down to the games in hand. Everyone looks at them and equates them to points, but Burnley have only won of their first 19 matches.
"It's unrealistic to think of the two or three games in hand they've got that they're going to win them all.
"It's going to be how they get on in those games in hand, how they manage the squad which isn't the biggest and wasn't strengthened in the window, and their home form which has often been key.
"They've only played eight at Turf Moor so far, there's a lot of home fixtures still to come and they are traditionally in the Premier League - not so much over the last 12 months - but a strong team at home."
Callum Wilson's long-term injury forced Newcastle to act quickly and lure Wood away from their relegation rivals.
The 30-year-old has registered double-figure hauls in each of the last four seasons, but has only scored three times ahead of his January move.
Burnley did secure a replacement on deadline day in Wout Weghorst, and there is a feeling among fans that the Clarets have actually got the better end of the deal.
James said: "I think most supporters are seeing £25m for Wood and £12m for Weghorst as a good bit of business, albeit Weghorst does not have Premier League experience.
"He's had a few seasons in the Bundesliga, he's an international footballer and his goalscoring record is better than Wood.
"Wood has had a very poor season, we were sort of waiting for him to get going and it didn't happen.
"Everything I'm hearing about Weghorst is he might be a slightly better player than Wood, a more all-round player.
"I don't think there's too many supporters who feel Burnley are in a worse position in terms of that centre-forward role."
However, the lack of additions in other key areas is seen as a source of concern for Dyche's side.
James explained: "They haven't addressed the midfield which has been needing to be addressed for about up to six windows.
"They still haven't managed to bring in a winger or an attack-minded creative player in the middle.
"It wasn't a disastrous window, they lost Wood but brought in Weghorst so they're no stronger in terms of squad depth.
"But if you ask Burnley fans what they wanted, they would have wanted up to four players.
"Okay, they might not be realistic but to have a net gain of no players despite some valiant efforts and some continental criss-crossing from the chairman to get deals over the line, they haven't arrived."
Burnley's struggles in the transfer market contrasts sharply with Newcastle's mid-season spending which could exceed £92m.
This may draw 'envious' glances from fans, but James feels there is still a belief in the current squad to once again pull themselves clear of danger.
He said: "I think before the window started and still now, Newcastle are viewed as the most likely out of those four to stay up because they've been able to go and spend.
"The signing of Trippier rankles with us in Burnley because of how highly regarded he is here, he is a very good signing.
"Burn is a very sensible signing as is Targett. Bruno is a bit of an exotic signing that will get everyone excited, and it's just how that translates into performances on the pitch.
"I think from the Burnley perspective, they are probably looking a little enviously at Newcastle in terms of they've been able to go and get five players in a way Burnley would love to but can't.
"However, I still think the supporters, the club, and the players have all been down this road countless times. They know what needs to be done.
"Newcastle need to fit four or five players into the starting lineup, they have a manager who has not been there that long. There will be plenty of people thinking Burnley can get out of this."
Brighton, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham are all on the agenda for Dyche's side before the end of the month.
While Burnley have only just reached the halfway point of their season, there is a sense the next three weeks could prove make or break.
James said: "I think if I had to pick one of the four now, I'd probably have to say Newcastle because of the business they've been able to do.
"I still don't see Norwich being strong enough over their remaining games to collect enough points.
"Watford is a really interesting one, if Roy Hodgson can get a defensive resillience instilled into them, they've got half a chance because they've got good players.
"Burnley have quite a few on paper winnable games there, it's just whether they can get on the right side of their margins. So far this season, they've not been able to do that.
"It is an uphill task, there's no denying that and the picture will probably be clearer in three weeks' time as they have six games in February.
"If they have managed to win two or three, there will be a renewed optimism they can build momentum and rely on the characters who have done it for them in the past.
"If they're still sitting there on one win in March, I think it's game over."
Norwich City
The Canaries currently occupy the coveted 17th spot, having recorded back-to-back victories over Everton and Watford.
Norwich's survival prospects were dismissed in some quarters just weeks into the season, but Dean Smith has guided the team to three of their four league wins this season.
Michael Mutch, Norwich City writer for Norfolk Live, believes the Canaries have shown a 'swagger' in their recent performances after a strong start to 2022.
He said: "Heading into the new year there was very little optimism that Norwich were going to climb out of the relegation zone.
"With five straight losses and no goals in December it was hard to see where the points were going to come from.
"But after four wins in their five games in 2022 there is a swagger and confidence about this Canaries side at the moment.
"Key players are coming back from illness or injury and the summer signings are beginning to find their feet.
"However, the relegation battle is still too close to call at the moment and there is a tricky month ahead for City as they face Man City and Liverpool consecutively.
"All the focus is on the four teams at the bottom but Smith has his eye on those in front as well and I believe the likes of Everton, Brentford and Leeds can be drawn into it.
"There is only three to six points separating Norwich from the three teams above them and they will face two of those sides, Leeds and Brentford, at the beginning of March."
Norwich were one of only four clubs not to sign a player in January despite their precarious position towards the bottom.
Perhaps the most notable deal was the decision to loan Todd Cantwell to Championship promotion hopefuls on deadline day.
The 23-year-old was one of Norwich's standout performers in the club's last top-flight season, but the promising attacker has made little impact this time around.
Mutch said: "City’s spending in the summer was an anomaly and it was made clear months before the January transfer window opened that they were not going to be making any moves.
"This will have frustrated fans given the position the club is in in the league, but they understand the City model when it comes to recruitment and they will have braced themselves for a quiet month.
"To outsiders, sending Cantwell out on loan may have seemed like a crazy thing to do considering he was seen as one of Norwich’s best players but we’ve not seen that this season.
"Cantwell failed to recapture the form we saw in the Premier League two years ago and this, along with question marks about his future, was becoming an unwanted distraction.
"His loan to Bournemouth was seen as a move that was best for both parties but there is still disappointment among fans about how things panned out."
Smith will therefore continue to work with the same group he inherited from Daniel Farke in November, while Howe must now integrate five signings into his side.
However, Mutch does not believe Norwich will be too concerned by the business conducted on Tyneside.
He said: "To be honest, Newcastle’s spending in January was quite underwhelming but it is too early to tell how it will impact the relegation battle.
"We’ve still not seen these new signings come together and as everybody knows it can take time for an influx of arrivals to gel.
"Norwich fans won’t be too worried right now about Newcastle’s January spending but they will obviously be keeping a close eye on them throughout February.
"As mentioned, Norwich face the Premier League’s top two this month whereas the Magpies have what would be considered as winnable games."
Mutch believes 'everybody' had written off Norwich's chances of defying their status as a yo-yo club earlier this season.
But Smith's quietly impressive start to life at Carrow Road has allowed belief to grow in the 'great escape'.
Mutch added: "There was a worry the winter break would kill their momentum, but look at what they did in the FA Cup against a Wolves side who were unbeaten in six games.
"They went ahead, dug deep and got a result on away soil. You would not have seen that a few months ago.
"Dean Smith has done an incredible job so far and with him in charge there is huge belief now that Norwich can avoid relegation.
"However, a month is a long time in the Premier League and in their next three games Norwich come up against sides (Crystal Palace, Man City and Liverpool) who have scored a combined total of eleven goals against the Canaries earlier in the season.
"Roy Hodgson is a clever appointment by Watford but again it is just too early to tell how his arrival will impact the relegation battle. Burnley may have games in hand but they’ve still only managed one win this season.
"This is going to be a very interesting February. Ask me again in March."
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Watford
The Hornets moved above Newcastle on goal difference following Saturday's stalemate at Turf Moor.
It was Roy Hodgson's first match in charge, and his side recorded their first Premier League clean sheet of the campaign to secure a point.
Ryan Gray, senior sport reporter for Watford Observer, feels it is unlikely any other sides are likely to be sucked into the relegation battle.
He said: "I think it's going to be three of the four that are at the bottom, isn't it? It's difficult to see Everton and possibly Leeds getting sucked in.
"I think the business Everton have done means they'll probably be alright, and Leeds have a couple of good players and should have enough.
"I think the mood at Watford is quite anxious. With regards to the manager, I think there is some who are optimistic Hodgson is a bit of a relegation specialist, he's done it before at Fulham and Crystal Palace.
"He's been in this position more than Claudio Ranieri and has a greater success rate. But I think there are others who see his retirement last year and wonder if his heart is really in it.
"It'll be interesting to see what he gets out of the players."
Hodgson was appointed on January 25, and became Watford's third boss of the campaign following the dismissals of Xisco Munoz and Ranieri.
The Hornets approach to managerial changes continues to come under scrutiny, and Gray believes there are many fans who feel the blame lies with the owners rather than those in charge of the team.
He said: "Speaking to some supporters, there's a lot of people who feel head coaches have not been provided with enough by the owners, especially in defence.
"The defence has needed strengthening for quite a long time. You look prior to the January window, they had Craig Cathcart who has been there for years, the likes of Christian Kabasele who is getting on a bit and has had a lot of injury problems.
"There's no real consistency in the club in terms of an identity. They swing wildly from one side to the other, they can have a disciplinarian and then go to an arm around the shoulder type.
"The style of football changes dramatically each time, so there is some sympathy with the players as well. There is no consistency with what they want to see on the pitch.
"There are few complaints when managers are sacked because it's something that has drawn a lot of criticism but when they are sacked, it's probably the right decision.
"The problem then is hiring the right person, and that's something the club has to get better at."
Hodgson was appointed with six days of the window remaining, but that did not stop Watford from bringing in six new players in January.
The decisions to bring in the likes of Hassane Kamara, Edo Kayembe, Samir, and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye indicates the Hornets priorities lay in defence. Watford also agreed a deal for Bordeaux attacker Samuel Kalu in a move which had originally been earmarked for the summer.
Gray said: "One positive about the window is they got their work done early.
"A few fans were complaining on deadline day they weren't in the market, but they identified their targets ahead of the window and brought them in.
"They've addressed a couple of key areas, it's just whether or not the players are enough. I'm not hugely optimistic they are enough, but they might go on to prove me wrong."
The Newcastle takeover in October prompted reports of superstar signings being lined up on an almost daily basis.
Howe's acquisitions show a clear preference for Premier League experience, while the club pulled off a coup in landing 'primary target' Guimaraes from Lyon.
Gray said: "I've seen Newcastle's business be described as annoyingly sensible by quite a few people, and I do think it is.
"The players brought in have got a real good balance with Premier League experience and Guimaraes who looks a real find, and a signal of intent for the future.
"You look at people like Trippier - an England international and a big part of the squad at Euro 2020 - to get him to come is brilliant.
"I think Targett and Burn are steady, reliable players who give six or seven out of 10 each game, players Newcastle perhaps did not have at the back before.
"I think Wood is a good person to have, although I think the money spent on him and the money Burnley spent on Weghorst, I think they got the better end of the deal.
"But other than that, I think they have equipped themselves perhaps as well as they possibly could have."
Watford and Newcastle are both a point adrift of safety at this point, and have already played out two 1-1 draws this season.
Burnley hold games in hand and Norwich are the form side, but Gray believes it will be either the Hornets or the Magpies who will ultimately pull clear.
He added: "I don't think Norwich have got enough, and I think time looks to have run out of on Burnley.
"Weghorst is a good signing, but I think they needed more than just him in January.
"I think it's between Watford and Newcastle. Before Hodgson was brought in, I would have said Newcastle, but I think his appointment has thrown a spanner in the works that could possibly see Newcastle go out of the two.
"I wouldn't like to call it either way. If Hodgson can get the defence sorted, I think Newcastle could have a problem although the players brought in could see them move away quite comfortably.
"It's such an intriguing battle, it's definitely the most interesting part of the Premier League this season."
