THE REALITY that the championship race is a marathon will thump Newcastle today with the same force as a runner hitting the wall if they lose the lead in the Premiership. After months when it appeared they could not be over taken, they will be passed this afternoon if Manchester United avoid defeat at Queen's Park Rangers.
Once massively clear, Newcastle's advantage is now one point and, as they do not play again until Monday, that could have disappeared before they take the field against West Ham at St James' Park. They will have two games in hand but only they can properly estimate the psychological effect of having to chase when once only setting the pace seemed to beckon.
Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, should know the feeling better than most since his team have won two and been narrowly beaten twice in the last four championship run ins. The one he would prefer to be pertinent would be 1992 when runaway United, weary with tension, were overtaken by Leeds.
"There was nothing worse than that," he said. "Suddenly the points were dripping away and there was not a lot I could do about it. If I could have used a magic wand four years ago I'd have used it but I had to make do with human beings and they are unpredictable. When you get to the end of the season it's mental tiredness that can be worse than physical tiredness."
To guard against that Ferguson will rest Phil Neville and Nicky Butt today. Brian McClair and David Beckham are the likely replacements although David May, could play at centre back if the option of playing Lee Sharpe at left back is considered too risky.
Liverpool, the third factor in the championship, can also make up ground on the leaders when they entertain Chelsea, a match with heavier significance after Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Wimbledon at Anfield in midweek. That night Roy Evans, their manager, accused his team of losing composure and he may shake it back into them by making changes to a starting line up that has been the same for eight matches. "We are not out of the title race," he said. "There is no way we will give up."
Neither Southampton nor Manchester City will give up, no matter the result at Maine Road today but the loser will have to give serious contemplation to relegation. Cite have a two point advantage but have placed three games more.
Alan Ball's presence as the manager adds a piquancy because this time last year he was guiding today's opponents to safety. Not that he allowed sentimentality to cloud his comments yesterday. My time at Southampton is history," he said. "I left them in a far better shape than I found them.
