LONDON (SE) - Newcastle have been sucked into a late season battle against relegation after a disappointing sequence of results and face a tough test against in-form Fulham at St James' Park on Sunday.
Newcastle (9-6-16) have suffered four defeats in six Premier League matches - a run that includes last weekend's 4-0 reverse at Manchester City. The Magpies were also beaten 3-1 by Benfica in Lisbon on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final .
Alan Pardew's side are in 15th place in the Premier League table but sit just three points above the drop zone.
Argentina winger Jonas Gutierrez admits Newcastle face a crucial couple of weeks and must achieve better results to maintain their Premier League status.
"No excuses - we have to do better, we were missing important players who had injuries but we have players who can come in to do the job the same way," Gutierrez told the Newcastle club website after the defeat by Manchester City. "We have to take a few more wins. We are not going to be safe with the points that we have so we need more points.
"We have two home games which are going to be difficult for us so the next 15 days are the most important of the year."
Fulham (10-9-11) beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 at Craven Cottage on Monday despite having midfielder Steve Sidwell sent-off after 78 minutes and are unbeaten in five matches, with three wins and two draws. The Cottagers are in a comfortable 10th place having accumulated 39 points.
Fulham's attacking midfielder Bryan Ruiz insists Newcastle will feel the pressure on Sunday and not the Cottagers, who are relatively safe in the middle of the table..
"It's going to be a very difficult game as Newcastle really need the points," Ruiz told the official Fulham club website. "But they have the pressure; they need to win. We are playing well so if we do the things we've been doing, then we will be fine and can play with no pressure.
"The season started very well. We had a difficult period but now we are back in the game again. It shows how tough the Barclays Premier League is but the fact it is so competitive is what I love about playing in England."
Newcastle's season has been blighted by a number of injuries and they will be without key players on Sunday. Mathieu Debuchy and Cheick Tiote are both struggling with hamstring injuries, while Massadio Haidara, Ryan Taylor (both knee), Fabricio Coloccini (back) and Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring) are all long-term absentees.
Fulham will be without Sidwell who is suspended following his red card against QPR. Midfielders Ashkan Dejagah (ankle) and Mahamadou Diarra (knee), as well as striker Mladen Petric (adductor problem) are all out injured.
Fulham won 2-1 when these sides met at Craven Cottage in December. Sidwell's first-half goal was cancelled out nine minutes after the break by Ben Arfa, but Hugo Rodallega scored nine minutes later to win the game for the Cottagers.
These sides have met 66 times before, with Fulham edging the all-time series with 28 wins to Newcastle's 25. There have been 13 draws.
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