HIGH expectations regularly make things a lot more difficult than they need to be at Newcastle United and this season, despite the club’s lofty position, has been no different.

 

It is hard to believe that before the visit of Wigan Athletic there were genuine concerns among supporters that the surge to the Premier League was in danger of stalling.

 

That was because Newcastle had gone three matches without winning since recording back-to-back victories over automatic promotion rivals Brighton and Huddersfield.

 

Even after the marginal victory over Wigan, there are question marks over why Newcastle found it hard to beat a team struggling to climb out of the relegation zone.

 

Both Matt Ritchie, the man of the match, and Rafael Benitez suggested afterwards that they would prefer to kill teams off and make the push for the Premier League a whole lot easier.

 

But the reality is that Newcastle have found it pretty straight-forward anyway.

 

True, they might have lost five matches at St James’ Park and they have rarely torn teams apart. In another seven games time, probably sooner, that will not matter. All that will matter is Newcastle will be back in the top-flight come August.

 

Newcastle boast a far superior goal difference to any other side in the division, they have won more matches than their rivals and, crucially, they have more points on the board than anyone else.

 

Throw in the fact they hold a ten-point cushion over third-placed Huddersfield and it is hard to see what all the fuss has been about in terms of the doubts which had surfaced.

 

Ritchie, after scoring the winner against Wigan, said: “I think that’s the stage of the season we’re at now really – if you’re playing tremendous football then you’ll get results. It’s hard to do that, but I did think we played well at times.

 

“We should have killed this game off – I should have scored when I was put through one on one.

 

“At this stage of the season you just have to have the desire to get over the line. It’s not always about dominating.

 

“It’s nice to do that, but it’s about three points at this stage of the season.”

 

Ritchie’s tidy header with 33 minutes remaining proved the difference in the end, after Newcastle had survived a couple of earlier scares when former Darlington defender Dan Burn almost headed Wigan into the lead with the scores level.

 

It should never have got to that point. Wigan hadn’t caused any problems until Dwight Gayle struck his 22nd goal of the season with eight minutes remaining of the opening half.

 

He was on hand at the back post to convert a pinpoint Mohamed Diame delivery after Ritchie had played him down the line. Newcastle should have built on that.

 

Ritchie said: “The first goal was important. We’ve struggled to break teams down. Teams come here and play five at the back, and it’s not always easy to find a way through. When you do get the first goal then teams have to open up a little bit and it was pleasing when Dwight scored.”

 

However, Wigan levelled within four minutes of the restart. Newcastle were slow out of the blocks and the Latics’ Michael Jacobs was allowed to run in behind Jamaal Lascelles and place a lovely chip over goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

 

Wigan played some neat and tidy counter-attacking football under interim boss Graham Barrow and had those chances to take the lead before Ritchie restored Newcastle’s advantage.

 

The Scotland winger recorded his 14th goal since moving from Bournemouth when he instinctively nodded in the rebound after his initial effort hit the post.

 

Benitez said: “Out of all the players we were talking about last summer, he was the most clear that he wanted to come here. That passion can be seen in every game, you can see he’s running all the time. Sometimes we tell him to stop because he’s putting so much effort into it. I prefer this kind of player, the one you have to ask to back off, rather than work harder. He’s an example to his team mates with his attitude and ability.”

 

Ritchie was denied a second when Wigan keeper Matt Gilks stopped an effort with his legs as the winger was put through on goal. He also had a penalty appeal waved away when he was tripped by Jake Buxton.

 

Ritchie said: “You can’t say too much as players now, but it’s a stone-wall penalty for me. My fall to the ground probably didn’t help. It was probably a little bit theatrical, if that’s the word for it. I maybe should have just fallen naturally, but it’s still a stone-wall penalty.”

 

Newcastle already look certainties for promotion, and that eventuality will edge closer if they defeat visitors Burton on Wednesday.

 

Ritchie said: “Burton have shown by beating Huddersfield that they can beat top teams. We need to be confident we can continue with the work we’ve done so far and finish the job off.”