Mick Martin: “I think it’s probably the hardest start you could expect.
“West Brom know this division very well and they will be rubbing their hands at that.
“It was never going to be a nice start in the Championship.
“The problem is that the expectation levels have doubled and so has the pressure.
“Newcastle are now a big scalp in the Championship and it’s something they have to deal with.
“Newcastle just have to get on with it now.
“True, everybody will want to beat them, but they mustn’t be afraid of that.
“In fact, they need to play with a degree of arrogance about their game.
“They have to play with a ‘big club’ attitude and they also need to start the season solidly.
“Wolves and Birmingham did that last season and it was really the key to their success.
“Now Newcastle must emulate it – but it’s going to be tough.”