Newcastle United and Norwich City showed erratic form on their travels in the English Premiership last season, only managing two wins each and going into double figures in the away losses column.

Norwich, however, finished 11th but Newcastle were seriously involved in the relegation dogfight.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew, who was given a new contract of eight years before the season got under way, eventually went close to getting the sack.

Indeed, Newcastle’s fall from grace was spectacular, only securing safety with a win at relegated QPR a week before the end of the campaign.

Pardew maintained that the extra Europa League fixtures and the series of injuries he had to contend with played havoc with his team’s progress.

He continued to rely on a contingent of Frenchmen who were unable to help the club by themselves, particularly in the home upsets to rivals Sunderland 0-3 and Liverpool 0-6 − this was the first time the Toon had lost a top-flight home game by a margin of six or more goals since 1925.

In the end, Newcastle finished with 24 points fewer than the previous season.

Yohan Cabaye was selected as the club’s player of the year. However, Fabricio Coloccini was arguably the most influential man at St James’s Park but he drew the ire of the fans by saying he wanted to quit in January.

At times, Norwich manager Chris Hughton appeared too worried on the touchline but in the end the Canaries flew into safe territory for a satisfactory season in their second successive year in the top flight of the English game.

In front of their own fans, Norwich were in full chirp following the remarkable wins over Arsenal and Man. United. Yet, it was their two final victories over West Brom and Man. City which finally gave them a huge surge up the standings.

In cup competitions, after beating Tottenham at Carrow Road 2-1, Norwich lost at the same venue 1-4 to Aston Villa in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

The Canaries tumbled at the first hurdle in the FA Cup as they lost 3-0 at Peterborough.

Newcastle went through the group phase of the Europa League but lost to finalists Benfica in the quarter-finals.

In the FA Cup, Newcastle failed to find their feet and lost0-2 to Brighton in round three.

At this same stage, but in the League Cup, the Toon went down 2-1 away to Manchester United.

2012-13 Premier League results

Newcastle United

August − Home vs Tottenham 2-1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen).
Away vs Chelsea 0-2.
September − Home vs Aston Villa 1-1 (Ben Arfa).
Away vs Everton 2-2 (Ba 2).
Home vs Norwich City 1-0 (Ba).
Away vs Reading 2-2 (Ba 2).
October − Home vs Manchester United 0-3.
Away vs Sunderland 1-1 (Cabaye).
Home vs West Brom 2-1 (Ba, Cisse).
November − Away vs Liverpool 1-1 (Cabaye).
Home vs West Ham 0-1.
Home vs Swansea 1-2 (Ba).
Away vs Southampton 0-2.
Away vs Stoke City 1-2 (Cisse).
December − Home vs Wigan 3-0 (Ba 2, 1 pen, Bigirimana).
Away vs Fulham 1-2 (Ben Arfa).
Home vs Manchester City 1-3 (Ba).
Home vs Queens Park Rangers 1-0 (Ameobi).
Away vs Manchester United 3-4 (Evans og, Perch, Cisse).
Away vs Arsenal 3-7 (Ba 2, Marveaux).
January − Home vs Everton 1-2 (Cisse).
Away vs Norwich 0-0.
Home vs Reading 1-2 (Cabaye).
Away vs Aston Villa 2-1 (Cisse, Cabaye).
February − Home vs Chelsea 3-2 (Gutierrez, Sissoko 2).
Away vs Tottenham 1-2 (Gouffran).
Home vs Southampton 4-2 (Sissoko, Cisse, Cabaye pen, Hooiveld og).
March − Away vs Swansea 0-1.
Home vs Stoke 2-1 (Cabaye, Cisse).
Away vs Wigan 1-2 (Santon).
Away vs Manchester City 0-4.
April − Home vs Fulham 1-0 (Cisse).
Home vs Sunderland 0-3.
Away vs West Brom 1-1 (Gouffran).
Home vs Liverpool 0-6.
May − Away vs West Ham 0-0.
Away vs QPR 2-1 (Ben Arfa pen, Gouffran).
Home vs Arsenal 0-1.

Norwich City

August − Away vs Fulham 0-5.
Home vs Norwich 1-1 (Jackson).
September − Away vs Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 (Snodgrass).
Home vs West Ham 0-0.
Away vs Newcastle 0-1.
Home vs Liverpool 2-5 (Morrison, Holt).
October − Away vs Chelsea 1-4 (Holt).
Home vs Arsenal 1-0 (Holt).
Away vs Aston Villa 1-1 (Turner).
November − Home vs Stoke 1-0 (Johnson).
Away vs Reading 0-0.
Home vs Manchester United 1-0 (Pilkington).
Away vs Everton 1-1 (Bassong).
Away vs Southampton 1-1 (Snodgrass).
December − Home vs Sunderland 2-1 (Bassong, Pilkington).
Away vs Swansea 4-3 (Whittaker, Holt, Bassong, Snodgrass).
Home vs Wigan 2-1 (Pilkington, Hoolahan).
Away vs West Brom 1-2 (Snodgrass).
Home vs Chelsea 0-1.
Home vs Manchester City 3-4 (Pilkington, Martin 2).
January − Away vs West Ham 1-2 (Martin).
Home vs Newcastle 0-0.
Away vs Liverpool 0-5.
Home vs Tottenham 1-1 (Hoolahan).
February − Away vs QPR 0-0.
Home vs Fulham 0-0.
Home vs Everton 2-1 (Kamara, Holt).
March − Away vs Manchester United 0-4.
Home vs Southampton 0-6.
Away vs Sunderland 1-1 (Hoolahan).
Away vs Wigan 0-1.
April − Home vs Swansea 2-2 (Snodgrass, Turner).
Away vs Arsenal 1-3 (Turner).
Home vs Reading 2-1 (R. Bennett, E. Bennett).
Away vs Stoke 0-1.
May − Home vs Aston Villa 1-2 (Holt pen).
Home vs West Brom 4-0 (Snodgrass, Holt, McAuley og, Howson).
Away vs Manchester City 3-2 (Pilkington, Holt, Howson).