No need for high points tally in order to survive

MARGINS AREE ‘SO SMALL’ THIS TIME

EDDIE Howe is not convinced that teams will have to get close to 40 points to ensure survival in the Premier League this year. A tally as low as 29 points would have been enough to secure safety last season as Fulham were relegated in third bottom spot with one point less. Notably, Howe’s Bournemouth side in 2020 would have strolled to survival last term with their 34-point tally from two seasons ago as they went down by a single point but he is expecting low figures again this time around. And while Newcastle would have their work cut out to pick up another 19 points from the remaining 20 matches, with six wins and a draw needed to hit 29 points alone, one, Howe feels the season will ll boil down to crucial clashes ashes with those in and around ound them. Newcastle are scheduled to play ay Watford in mid- January and d travel to Leeds, Norwich and d Burnley later in the campaign. ign. But when asked if the lower points ints tallies of recent seasons ns should offer some encouragement couragement to the survival val mission, Howe said: “Yeah eah it does. It highlights how w difficult it is to get points in the Premier League. “I think we have seen it in our r last two games, we have done ne a lot right in the last two but t have ended upwith up with nothing g but heavy defeats. “The margins you have in those ose games against the top teams ams are so, so small. “Any mistake you are punished. hed. “I thought looking back on Man an City game and that was the e quietest we have seen them emas as an attacking force. “We did a lot right and went in 2- 0 down at the break. “That’s how difficult those games are and we are well aware of that. “That in turn, and due to the quality of the Premier League, you do need less points ( than previous years) to stay in the division.” Newcastle will sign out the year 2021 with tough games against Manchester United at St James’ Park and then Everton away but Howe has half an eye on the tussles with those in the bottom five. He said: “What it does mean is that the games you have against the teams around you take on huge importance and winning matches is so important. “Draws are all well and good for us but in our current position, we need to turn more draws into wins. “That’s the challenge we are going to face in the second half of the season.”