It had long been viewed as a potentially make-or-break period in the Magpies’ campaign, and – with seven points out of a possible nine – they came through it with flying colours.
However, there were further twists and turns to come. Newcastle were comfortably beaten by Fulham on their return to Tyneside, before struggling Birmingham City held out for a point at St. Andrew's ahead of another international break.
Saturday, 4th March
Huddersfield Town 1 Newcastle United 3
A surprise defeat for Brighton – at lowly Nottingham Forest – had opened the door for United at the top of the table.
And, despite seeing very little of the ball at the John Smith’s Stadium, they duly went five points clear after a clinical display.
Matt Ritchie opened the scoring from the spot, with Daryl Murphy and the returning Dwight Gayle also on target.
Crucially, Benitez’s charges now sat 11 points clear of Huddersfield, though the Terriers did have a game in hand.
Tuesday, 7th March
Reading 0 Newcastle United 0
Newcastle rounded off a difficult run of fixtures with a goalless draw at Reading – their first stalemate of the season.
Ritchie struck the post in the first half, though United were nearly beaten late on after Garath McCleary’s cross-come-shot dropped off-target via the woodwork.
Saturday, 11th March
Newcastle United 1 Fulham 3
More than two months since their last Championship defeat, the Magpies were undone by an impressive Fulham side at St. James’ Park.
Tom Cairney’s stunning goal gave the Cottagers an early lead, and teenage full-back Ryan Sessegnon all but put the outcome beyond doubt before the hour-mark, producing two confident finishes from largely identical positions.
Newcastle pulled one back through Daryl Murphy, though a grandstand finale never looked likely to materialise.
Indeed, the scoreline could have been even more emphatic in the end, but Tim Ream fired wide from the penalty spot.
Saturday, 18th March
Birmingham City 0 Newcastle United 0
Having looked set to mount a play-off challenge earlier in the campaign, Birmingham – now managed by Gianfranco Zola – were in danger of being sucked into a relegation dogfight ahead of the Magpies’ visit to the Second City.
However, the Blues – and goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak in particular – kept United at bay, though Ritchie did see a first-half effort controversially ruled out for offside.
With just over a month of the campaign remaining, Newcastle remained top of the Championship table, though Brighton and Huddersfield had both eaten into their lead.
