Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe believes they're at an advantage this season in their relegation battle.
Howe is not convinced that teams will have to get close to 40 points to ensure survival in the Premier League this year, and feels the season will boil down to crucial clashes with those in and around them.
Newcastle are scheduled to play Watford in mid-January and travel to Leeds, Norwich and Burnley later in the campaign.
But when asked if the lower points tallies of recent seasons should offer some encouragement to the survival mission, Howe said: "Yeah it does. It highlights how difficult it is to get points in the Premier League.
"I think we have seen it in our last two games, we have done a lot right in the last two but have ended up with nothing but heavy defeats. The margins you have in those games against the top teams are so, so small.
"Any mistake you are punished."
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