Newcastle's season has hit a new low after being defeated by basement boys Sheffield United, who recorded their first win of the Premier League season by beating the Magpies.
The pressure is dramatically intensifying upon manager Steve Bruce, whose side find themselves 15th in the Premier League, eight points above the drop zone.
It's a position which, in itself, might not look quite so frighteningly alarming to anyone from the outside looking in. But it's the meek and mild manner of Newcastle's downturn in form which is of deep concern to supporters and suggests the malaise may well run a lot deeper with the Premier League season not even at the halfway stage.