Newcastle can only hope they find three worse teams in the coming months. Swansea are surely one of them.
But if you cannot beat the bottom club at home, you risk surrendering your destiny to others.
And that is the way it will be for Rafa Benitez and his side between now and May, for when fans leaving St James' Park are celebrating news of a Watford equaliser against Southampton, you know faith in their own men has evaporated.
Supporters are behind Benitez, but this is a Championship side fighting for top-flight status.