Losing four matches on the bounce and languishing in 14th place after fourteen games would not have been what Alan Pardew would have envisaged after a brilliant campaign saw Newcastle finish in fifth last season.
However, that is exactly the situation that the Magpies face going into a must-win Monday night game against Wigan in the English Premier League.
"We have to find a new way to win games as we have a lot of creative imagination not in the team," Pardew said.
"I thought we went about it the right way at Stoke (a 1-0 defeat on Wednesday) with a real tough, disciplined display, and on another night we would have got a result.
"The players put absolutely everything into that game and they will have to do the same again on Monday night.
"Wigan won at Spurs and have put in some great performances this season. They also beat Reading last weekend when I thought perhaps it was against them to win it at the time.
"Wigan have good players who can produce great displays, and we've got to hope they don't on Monday."
The Latics are equal on points with Newcastle and have recently shown improvements, which suggests they will finish safely in mid table at the end of the season, rather than being in another relegation dogfight.
"We need to be aware of Newcastle's quality," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said. "It hasn't been an easy run for Newcastle in terms of results which makes it a very dangerous time to play them.
"The current team hasn't changed since last campaign when they did really well to finish where they did and get into European competition.
"They've got two strikers in Demba (Ba) and Papiss Cisse that have had very powerful impact on games.
"We will give them and their team a lot of respect when we go to St James' Park as you have to."
Newcastle have injury problems galore, with Steven Taylor, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gabriel Obertan and Yohan Cabaye definitely ruled out, while Shola Ameobi might have a small chance of making the bench.
Wigan also have a heavy casualty list, with Albert Crusat, Ben Watson, Ryo Miyaichi, Shaun Maloney, Antolin Alcaraz and Ivan Ramis missing, while Gary Caldwell and David Jones are doubtful.
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Expected lineups: Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Tiote, Perch, Anita, Guttierez, Ba, Cisse.
Wigan: Al Habsi; Stam, Boyce, Lopez, Figueroa, McCarthy, Jones, Gomez, Beausejour, Di Santo, Kone.
Prediction: 2-1 to Newcastle
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