Newcastle United were always going to improve and pull away from danger because the club is 'pretty much owned by a country'.
That is the contentious view of Norwich boss Dean Smith after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Magpies at Carrow Road on Saturday. The result leaves Norwich eight points adrift at the foot of the table following a remarkable swing in results since the Canaries previously played Newcastle.
In fact, it was winless Newcastle who were bottom following a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture last November. Eddie Howe's side have since won 11 games to move up to ninth place in the table and only Liverpool have been in better form in the Premier League in the last three months.
