Up for a scrap

It's usually us tearing ourselves apart, so it comes as some relief to note that the club whose internal infighting is splashed across today's back pages is Swansea, the next visitors to St James' Park. Given that our final two away games are at Arsenal and Liverpool, Saturday's match against a side who are struggling but will probably be safe represents almost our last opportunity to build on our points tally and ensure the top-half finish that was established as a minimum requirement this season. These latest revelations give further cause for encouragement - and currently we need all the help we can get.