Five games which signalled Newcastle's Premier League time was up

11 May 2016 09:23

Newcastle's ill-fated campaign started slowly and then lurched from crisis to crisis with only brief moments of respite.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at some of the key games which heralded the end of their stay in the Barclays Premier League.

October 3, 2015: Manchester City 6 Newcastle 1

Summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic's first goal for the club simply served to annoy City as Sergio Aguero struck five times inside a bewildering 20-minute period either side of the break.

November 28, 2015: Crystal Palace 5 Newcastle 1

Harsh words had been spoken within the dressing room after a 3-0 home defeat by Leicester a week earlier, but the Magpies capitulated in horrific style once again to former boss Alan Pardew's Palace to leave Steve McClaren desperately struggling to keep his head above water.

March 5, 2016: Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 3

McClaren's time was up when his ramshackle team were dismantled by the Cherries in front of the Toon Army, who made their feelings abundantly clear.

April 2, 2016: Norwich 3 Newcastle 2

New boss Rafael Benitez, having collected his first point from a derby draw with Sunderland the previous weekend, saw his team fight back twice to level, only to concede again in injury time on a day when defeat was not an option.

May 7, 2016: Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0

Victory amid a rebellious atmosphere at Villa Park might have kept the Magpies' survival hopes alive, but they became the only Premier League club not to beat relegated Villa in either meeting this season as a lack of firepower came back to haunt them once again.

Source: PA