Terriers need Tyne and cheer for crucial run HOME FORM CRITICAL IF TOWN TO AVOID BEING CUT ADRIFT

and Arsenal and find themselves in the bottom three as a result.

David Wagner’s side are playing better than their recent results suggest, but it’s becoming increasingly essential they put more points on the board in a strong finish to the year.

And it’s at home where they can make some significant steps.

After Newcastle come to town, the follow-up fixture for Wagner’s men is another home clash on December 22 with second-bottom Southampton who, like bottom-placed Fulham are just a point behind.

Town then have holiday trips to Manchester United, on Boxing Day, and Fulham on December 29, before their third vital home league match in succession - against Burnley on January 2.

Wagner, rightly, believes Town are being competitive in pretty much every fixture this season, but they certainly have to make the John Smith’s a fortress again in these upcoming trio of matches.

The danger if Town can’t take enough points against their rivals in the lower reaches is that they will become cut adrift – something they have managed to avoid so far this season and something they desperately can’t afford.

To be fair, the bottom seven – from Cardiff City downwards – are cut off already by seven points from Brighton, Watford and West Ham.

Cardiff, however, are only four points ahead of Town despite picking Liverpool Man City Tottenham Chelsea Arsenal Man Utd Everton Bournemouth Leicester Wolverhampton West Ham Watford Brighton Cardiff Newcastle Crystal Palace Burnley up six points from nine and present an immediate and attainable target for Wagner’s squad ahead of the Christmas fixtures. Neil Warnock’s Cardiff are at Watford this weekend before entertaining Manchester United on the 22nd, but then (like Town) they are away for a holiday double at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and Leicester to round off the year.

Town have just the one league win at home this season after eight attempts.

At the same stage last term, Wagner’s side had won half their home matches, taking the scalps of this weekend’s visitors Newcastle in addition to those of West Brom, Brighton and, most spectacularly, Man United.

Like this season, Town had just one away win to their credit by this stage (Palace on the opening day, F A Pts 34 6 42 45 9 41 30 16 36 33 13 34 35 20 34 28 26 26 23 19 24 25 26 23 21 20 22 17 19 22 23 25 21 20 23 21 19 22 21 15 30 14 13 22 13 13 23 12 15 32 12