From the darkest of tunnels with barely a slither of light ahead of them to an illuminated pathway to Premier League safety and hopefully well beyond. The future is looking bright again at St James' Park.
Had the Magpies' fate been played out at Turf Moor with a last gasp victory in Lancashire, the campaign would no doubt have been dubbed: "The Great Escape" for Eddie Howe's men.
Instead, Newcastle's storyline for the season is more than likely to be much less emotionally charged and by the time that trip to Turf Moor comes around, United's fate should be well sealed. For all the suggestions of a last day shoot-out for survival, this game will probably be a dead rubber from a Toon point of view.
