Mick Quinn: "They can win down there - it's crucial.
Quinn Says Toon Could Rue Those Two Points Dropped!
Mick Quinn: "They can win down there - it's crucial.
"Slipping up against Stoke has put all the pressure on them. They were 2-0 up and cruising against Stoke and they dominated the first half.
"But in the second half they just weren't at the races.
"Joe Kinnear must be so frustrated. But hopefully they can get something out of Pompey.
"However, I do have to say that those two points on Saturday would have eased the pressure. I'm not sure on Pompey since Tony Adams took over. Their results have been up and down, so in that way it's a chance to grab something.
"The Premier League is tight this year and a couple of wins can get you out of it. But, by the same token, a couple of defeats will have you back down there.
"This season there are a few teams up there - Hull and Fulham have really set the bar.
"They want to make sure they don't get relegated, but there are a lot of teams battling with them, just like Newcastle.
"Going down would be a disaster for Newcastle. When I first arrived at Newcastle, the place was down in the dumps.
"The previous season the fans had been burning shirts on the pitch and the Supporters For Change group was in full swing.
"I remember walking round the city and there were 1,000 fans marching.
"One of them had a banner on it saying 'Who the f*** is Micky Quinn'. I didn't know what was happening!
"I soon rammed it down their throats in the first game when I scored four times against Leeds.
"But it's no good for anybody when a club goes down. You just can't afford to.
"The Premier League offers you a big pot of cash. Yes, you get parachute payments if you go down to the Championship. But they don't last long if you get it wrong.
"I'd hate to see them drop down to League One like Forest did. People keep saying you aren't too big to go down - and Forest proved it wrong twice."