During a Premier League season which has ebbed and flowed throughout, it is often difficult to pinpoint moments which could define a season. For example, if Arsenal do not go on to win the league Eduardo’s injury at Birmingham could easily become the moment which turned the title race. The relegation dogfight may have seen one of these defining moments at around 4.45 on Saturday afternoon.

Newcastle dominated Blackburn throughout on Saturday but could not score. In injury-time at St James’ Park Blackburn broke quickly and the ever-improving David Bentley fed Matt Derbyshire to send Newcastle to yet another defeat under the second reign of Kevin Keegan. Almost at exactly the same time, also in the north-east, James Harper finished off a Reading move at Middlesbrough that gave Steve Coppell’s men their first win since the end of December and, most importantly, halted a run of eight successive defeats in the league.

Newcastle’s defeat was a real body-blow as the Toon had dominated against Mark Hughes’ side. Michael Owen in particular should have scored a brace but for the combination of his own poor finishing and the brilliance of Brad Friedel. Reading also had their fair share of luck against Boro – the home side definitely had the better of the chances, and the win could turn around Reading's season.

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Steve Coppell admitted as much after the game – "It was a great result for us. Having not won away from home all season we had to approach the game in a certain manner and our game-plan went reasonably well,” he said. “A clean sheet would have been significant and to get all three points was a massive, massive boost. Psychologically, I hope it is going to have a real long-term effect."

As a result Reading can take some confidence into the next game – a very winnable encounter with Manchester City at home. Football, as we are often told, is a results business and not least because of the psychological impact a win or a defeat can have. And the Blackburn defeat could be the most galling of all Keegan’s losses so far. Newcastle expect to beat teams like Blackburn at home and, with the performance they put in on Saturday, they deserved to.

Nevertheless, the hard statistics of Keegan’s second reign as Newcastle boss should worry the Toon army. Newcastle have lost five of the seven matches for which he has been in charge. In the process they have let in 17 goals, while they have scored just three. Their next fixture is away at Liverpool, where despite the obvious affection the Kop have for Keegan and Owen, Newcastle are unlikely to come away with anything.