Two wins and a draw looks a tall order for a side which has managed only six league victories all season, but there is little doubt only a first three-point haul at St James' Park since December 21 is a must against derby rivals Middlesbrough on Monday night if they are to avoid the drop.

Fulham visit Tyneside next weekend for another potentially make-or-break encounter before the curtain falls on a disastrous campaign at Aston Villa.

The Magpies have tasted victory only once in their last 17 league games, but they know they have now reached the point of no return.

Senegal international defender Beye said: "We know what we need to do. I think we need to get seven points to stay in the Premier League.

"We can't afford to lose any more - we just need three points on Monday."

Once again, a club with an astonishing talent for attracting bad publicity has found itself engulfed in controversy in the wake of Joey Barton's sending off at Liverpool last Sunday.

The 26-year-old collected a three-match ban for his pains after scything through Xabi Alonso, but has since been banned from the training ground after a stand-up row with Shearer in the dressing room afterwards.

Despite the challenge that situation presented, Shearer has not been deflected from his mission, and there is a growing feeling on Tyneside he will remain in charge beyond the confines of the eight games for which he was initially employed even if the club is relegated.

But in the short-term, his only focus is the task of securing his first win at the sixth attempt, and that means erasing the memories of another capitulation in the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool last week, and the furore which followed it.

Beye said: "He [Shearer] said the game is gone, we can't do anything about it.

"We need to focus on the game against Boro. It will be the most important game for everybody in their lives.

"We have three games left now, and I think everybody knows what we need to stay in the Premier League."

Shearer has admitted the game is the biggest of his career too, and that from a man who played in FA Cup finals, a UEFA Cup semi-final, the Champions League and made 63 appearances for England.

Newcastle and Boro are locked together on 31 points inside the relegation zone, both three points adrift of safety and knowing defeat on Monday night could effectively send them down.

The reasons are not difficult to see - between them, they have won only three times in 40 league games, and only victories will now do.

Shearer's plans continue to be disrupted by injuries, with his only left-back, Jose Enrique, likely to miss out once again.

He has problems too in midfield with Barton suspended and Alan Smith struggling to shake off a thigh problem, although that could provide an opportunity for other members of his squad.

Shearer said: "There's Danny Guthrie, Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt.

"We will be hoping that Alan Smith is okay, but he's going to be touch and go.

"But, like the rest of the players, they won't need motivating for this game.

"They will be able to go out there and feel the atmosphere. It's all up to us to try to go out there and get that win."