Swansea
v
Newcastle
Sat 13th Feb - The Liberty Stadium
Tue 9th Feb - Pride Park Stadium
By James Dall Last updated: 5th April 2009
Robson: Backing Shearer
Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson believes that Alan Shearer is the club's 'only hope'.
Shearer was appointed as the Magpies' new short-term boss during the week as Joe Kinnear recovers from heart surgery.
The ex-Newcastle striker suffered defeat in his first game in charge, with Chelsea running out comfortable 2-0 winners on Saturday.
The Tyneside club sit three points adrift of Premier League safety, but Robson feels Shearer is the right man to guide them to survival.
He said in the Mail on Sunday: "Newcastle United have needed a strong leader for months, if not years. The departure of [former executive director (football)] Dennis Wise last week proves to me that, in Alan Shearer, they now have that man.
"But Saturday's performance showed just how strong Shearer will have to be in the coming weeks. This is a team on their knees, fighting for Premier League survival and a million miles from being able to take on sides like Chelsea.
"Thankfully for Newcastle, they have Shearer. He is really the club's only hope now because not only does he have the heart of a lion, he has a much shrewder football brain than many people might realise.
"People talk about his passion and will to win. That is all true but, most importantly of all, he has a deep knowledge of the game and the ability to impart that knowledge to the dressing room."

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Newcastle 2-2 West Brom - Hughton
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 13th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 12:45 | Swansea vs Newcastle |
| Wednesday 17th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Coventry |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Preston |
| Tuesday 23rd February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 20:00 | Reading vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Watford vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 6th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Barnsley |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Newcastle |
| Wednesday 17th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Scunthorpe |
| Saturday 20th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 17:20 | Bristol City vs Newcastle |
| Tuesday 23rd March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Doncaster vs Newcastle |
| Monday 29th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Nottm Forest |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Peterborough vs Newcastle |
| Monday 5th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Sheff Utd |
| Saturday 10th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Blackpool |
| Saturday 17th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Plymouth vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 24th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Ipswich |
| Sunday 2nd May | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 13:00 | QPR vs Newcastle |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 3 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Friday 5th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 5 - 1 Cardiff | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Leicester 0 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 2 - 0 Crystal Palace | |
| Saturday 23rd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| West Brom 4 - 2 Newcastle | |
| Monday 18th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 2 - 2 West Brom | |
| Wednesday 13th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Newcastle 3 - 0 Plymouth | |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Plymouth 0 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Monday 28th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 0 - 0 Derby | |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Wed 2 - 2 Newcastle | |
| Sunday 20th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Barnsley 2 - 2 Newcastle | |
| Wednesday 9th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Coventry 0 - 2 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 2 - 0 Watford | |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 3 - 0 Swansea | |
| Monday 23rd November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Preston 0 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 3 - 1 Peterborough | |
| Monday 2nd November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Utd 0 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Newcastle 2 - 1 Doncaster | |
| Tuesday 20th October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Scunthorpe 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 30 | 59 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 29 | 59 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 30 | 55 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 29 | 48 |
| 5 | Swansea City | 29 | 48 |
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The arrivals of Jim Gannon and Brian McDermott has Peter Beagrie asking how managers are chosen.
Charlie Adam has beaten off stiff competition to win the PFA Championship Fans' Player of the Month for January.
Newcastle surrendered top spot in the Championship after crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Derby.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has challenged his players to bounce back after their defeat at Derby.
West Brom had plenty to cheer on Tuesday night as Newcastle and Nottingham Forest dropped points.
Brighton have completed the signing of young Newcastle winger Kazenga LuaLua on a one-month loan deal.
Newcastle United look to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Championship table.