And that was where they ended it, too, although the four and a half weeks in between were not without incident.
Friday, 2nd December
Nottingham Forest 2 Newcastle United 1
Few games during the Magpies’ 2016/17 campaign proved as controversial as an incident-packed encounter with Forest at the City Ground.
Both Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett saw red for Newcastle – dismissals which were later rescinded by the FA.
Still, the Magpies led at the break, with goalkeeper Karl Darlow keeping out two penalties either side of Matt Ritchie’s fine strike.
Forest’s numerical advantage told in the second half, though. Nicklas Bendtner bundled home an equaliser, before Matty Cash struck late to consign United to defeat.
Saturday, 10th December
Newcastle United 4 Birmingham City 0
If there were any fears that they were starting to wobble ahead of the festive period, the Magpies responded with aplomb against then-play-off-chasing Birmingham.
Dwight Gayle notched a hat-trick for Rafa Benitez’s side, including a quick-fire brace before the break.
Yoan Gouffran also got his name on the scoresheet, taking his tally for the season to five.
Wednesday, 14th December
Wigan Athletic 0 Newcastle United 2
Brighton & Hove Albion’s victory at Blackburn Rovers 24 hours prior saw the Magpies knocked off the summit of the Championship, but Benitez’s charges responded with a comfortable win of their own.
Having struck against another of his former clubs, Hull City, two weeks prior, Mohamed Diame repeated the trick at the DW Stadium, playing a neat one-two with Isaac Hayden before sliding the ball home.
Christian Atsu added a second late on as Newcastle eased over the line.
Saturday, 17th December
Burton Albion 1 Newcastle United 2
Goals from Gayle and Diame made sure that Newcastle’s first visit to the Pirelli Stadium ended in victory – but they were made to work hard for it by a spirited Burton side.
Frontman Gayle’s close-range finish was quickly cancelled out by the Brewers’ Lloyd Dyer, who converted John Brayford’s cross.
Diame restored the Magpies’ lead before the break, however, outmuscling Damien McCrory before picking out the far corner.
2-1 was how it finished, though Nigel Clough’s side continued to probe as time wore on.
Monday, 26th December
Newcastle United 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Glenn Loovens’ second-half header condemned United to a surprise defeat at St. James’ Park.
With Newcastle struggling to find their rhythm, the visiting skipper nodded beyond Karl Darlow after the ‘keeper had kept out Tom Lees’ initial effort.
Wednesday proved a tough nut for the Magpies to crack, Carlos Carvalhal’s side consolidating a play-off place with victory.
Friday, 30th December
Newcastle United 3 Nottingham Forest 1
With their contentious defeat at the City Ground still fresh in the memory, United ended an eventful year on a high note by taking revenge on Forest.
Ritchie opened the scoring less than five minutes in, though Nicolao Dumitru levelled matters before the break.
But, the dismissal of Forest skipper Matt Mills saw the pendulum swing back United’s way, and Gayle duly struck twice in the final half-hour to send the bulk of another capacity crowd home happy.
