Reading Win Put Everything Into Perspective For Toon!

Newcastle had done well until two minutes from the break, when Jermaine Pennant was fortunate to deflect home his first of the season.

Then with seconds to go before the break, Fernando Torres scored another cracker, his 25th of the season, before Steven Gerrard added the third with a cool chip in the second-half.

But it was relegation battlers Reading that really put everything into perspective with a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Madejski Stadium.

They jumped out of the relegation spot to leapfrog over ourselves, and for the first time this season the alarm bells started to ring.

A second-half strike from Shane Long and a late goal from substitute Dave Kitson proved enough for a second successive win by the Royals to move out of the bottom three and have Toon fans looking at those below us.

It will take a miracle for Fulham to scramble out of the rut, but Jimmy Bullard grabbed a late equaliser to stun Blackburn to earn a 1-1 draw and keep alive their slim hopes of avoiding relegation.

The struggling Cottagers looked to be heading towards another defeat as Morten Gamst Pedersen headed Blackburn in front just before the hour at Ewood Park.

But Fulham hit back late on as Bullard stepped up to curl home a free-kick from the edge of the area.

MIDDLESBROUGH - 29pts
Remaining games: Aston Villa (a), Arsenal (a), Derby (h), Chelsea (a), Man Utd (h), Tottenham (a), Bolton (h), Sunderland (a), Portsmouth (h), Everton (a).

READING - 28
Remaining games: Liverpool (a), Birmingham (h), Blackburn (h), Newcastle (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Wigan (a), Tottenham (h), Derby (a).