Alan Shearer is a Newcastle legend and always will be regardless of how he fares in his final four games as manager. Time is fast running out for the St James’ Park side and their draw with Portsmouth on Monday night demonstrated just how much trouble they’re in.

It was a game that should have been a turning point for the Magpies but instead they just couldn’t find the net, in truth I’m not sure they were even looking for it, and limped to a 0-0 draw. In the four games Big Al had been in charge at Newcastle they’ve scored just a solitary goal and that simply isn’t good enough when you’re trying to stay in the Premier League.

The saving grace for the Toon army could be the form of Hull City, who are dropping like a stone. However, Middlesbrough, who themselves looked a lost cause a few weeks ago, have started to put up a fight and they could pull out of it at the expense of Hull and Newcastle. Boro lost to Arsenal in their last outing but prior to that they beat Hull and drew with Fulham, but Fulham have goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to thank for the point.

Boro look willing to fight and Newcastle don’t, it’s as simple as that from where I’m sitting. Newcastle’s remaining four fixtures are a daunting away day at Liverpool before must win home games against Middlesbrough and Fulham with their final tie a trip to Aston Villa. Shearer believes they must get something at Liverpool to survive, but after watching Liverpool recently I don’t fancy their chances much.

Shearer told Skysports: "We might get something at Anfield and then we have two home games we need to take six points from.

"I think it will go to the final game of the season.

"But we need a win to kick-start a bit of momentum."

It's my football prediction that the tie against Middlesbrough could well be the crunch one, and one definitely worth tuning in for.