Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has claimed that the Magpies have no excuses if they succumb to Premier League relegation this season.
United's survival hangs in the balance after losing eight of their previous nine as John Carver's side sit one place and two points above the drop zone, with two games left.
They travel to already-relegated Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, before hosting West Ham United on the final day, and Shearer says that he will "despair" if they throw away their top-flight status from this position.
"If Newcastle cannot manage to stay up now then they really will deserve to go down," the 44-year-old told The Sun.
"But Newcastle face a QPR side already down, one who simply rolled over at the Etihad yesterday.
"Then it is a West Ham side with nothing left to play for and struggling to find a goal. If Newcastle manage to manufacture relegation from this then I really will despair."
Carver's charges stopped the rot on Saturday by drawing 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion to end an eight-game losing streak.
Shane Callaghan
