With QPR and Reading odds-on for the chop, Stoke could well be the third side playing Championship football next season.
Stoke have picked up only five points since the turn of the year and the 2-0 defeat by Manchester United extended their miserable run to one point from seven games.
If 40pts is the cut-off point, Newcastle need another four points.
13 Newcastle 36
14 Norwich 35
15 Sunderland 34
16 Stoke City 34
17 A Villa 34
18 Wigan 31
19 QPR 24
20 Reading 24
That left Pulis' side in 16th, three points clear of 18th-placed Wigan but having played two games more.
Wigan's games in hand are against Man City (a) and Swansea (H).
Pulis: "I've just spoken to the players. It's a five-game season.
"There's eight, maybe nine teams that are in the scrap and we've just got to make sure, no matter what's happened before, the season really starts for us now. I still say 40 points will do it.
"We just haven't had the breaks, and that's what happens in runs like this. The most important thing is that you all stay nice and positive - and it's difficult to do that - and focus.
"What's gone has gone, the important thing is looking to the next game and then the next game."
PREMIER LEAGUE BATTLE
Tuesday 16 April 2013
19:45 Arsenal v Everton Emirates Stadium
Wednesday 17 April 2013
19:45 Man City v Wigan Etihad Stadium
19:45 West Ham v Man Utd Boleyn Ground
Saturday 20 April 2013
15:00 Fulham v Arsenal Craven Cottage
15:00 Norwich v Reading Carrow Road
15:00 QPR v Stoke Loftus Road Stadium
15:00 Sunderland v Everton Stadium of Light
15:00 Swansea v Southampton Liberty Stadium
15:00 West Brom v Newcastle The Hawthorns
15:00 West Ham v Wigan Boleyn Ground
Sunday 21 April 2013
13:30 Tottenham v Man City White Hart Lane
16:00 Liverpool v Chelsea Anfield
Monday 22 April 2013
20:00 Man Utd v Aston Villa Old Trafford
Saturday 27 April 2013
12:45 Man City v West Ham Etihad Stadium
15:00 Chelsea v Swansea Stamford Bridge
15:00 Everton v Fulham Goodison Park
15:00 Southampton v West Brom St. Mary's Stadium
15:00 Stoke v Norwich Britannia Stadium
15:00 Wigan v Tottenham The DW Stadium
17:30 Newcastle v Liverpool St James' Park
Sunday 28 April 2013
13:30 Reading v QPR Madejski Stadium
16:00 Arsenal v Man Utd Emirates Stadium
Monday 29 April 2013
20:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland Villa Park
Saturday 4 May 2013
15:00 Fulham v Reading Craven Cottage
15:00 Liverpool v Everton Anfield
15:00 Man Utd v Chelsea Old Trafford
15:00 Norwich v Aston Villa Carrow Road
15:00 QPR v Arsenal Loftus Road Stadium
15:00 Sunderland v Stoke Stadium of Light
15:00 Swansea v Man City Liberty Stadium
15:00 Tottenham v Southampton White Hart Lane
15:00 West Brom v Wigan The Hawthorns
15:00 West Ham v Newcastle Boleyn Ground
Tuesday 7 May 2013
19:45 Wigan v Swansea The DW Stadium
Sunday 12 May 2013
15:00 Arsenal v Wigan Emirates Stadium
15:00 Aston Villa v Chelsea Villa Park
15:00 Everton v West Ham Goodison Park
15:00 Fulham v Liverpool Craven Cottage
15:00 Man Utd v Swansea Old Trafford
15:00 Norwich v West Brom Carrow Road
15:00 QPR v Newcastle Loftus Road Stadium
15:00 Reading v Man City Madejski Stadium
15:00 Stoke v Tottenham Britannia Stadium
15:00 Sunderland v Southampton Stadium of Light
Sunday 19 May 2013
16:00 Chelsea v Everton Stamford Bridge
16:00 Liverpool v QPR Anfield
16:00 Man City v Norwich Etihad Stadium
16:00 Newcastle v Arsenal St James' Park
16:00 Southampton v Stoke St. Mary's Stadium
16:00 Swansea v Fulham Liberty Stadium
16:00 Tottenham v Sunderland White Hart Lane
16:00 West Brom v Man Utd The Hawthorns
16:00 West Ham v Reading Boleyn Ground
16:00 Wigan v Aston Villa The DW Stadium