Michael Regan/Getty ImagesA big boost from the home fans at St James Park could be just the lift Newcastle needs on Monday night versus Wigan.

Newcastle are struggling at the moment, we all know that. My last few blogs have been very downhearted although there were definitely signs of improvement on Wednesday night at Stoke. If Newcastle can play with the same application we saw at Stoke, then three points will be gained when Wigan come to St James' Park on Monday night.

There is a common belief that Newcastle struggle against 'footballing' sides -- a belief strengthened following the recent home loss to Swansea, but with Roberto Martinez or beforehand, Wigan Athletic have never won a game at St James' Park. In the seven previous meetings Newcastle have won four and drawn three.

Over the past few days I have read a number of tweets and articles comparing this season to the relegation season of 2008/09, and when you look at the comparison it's easy to see why this is a talking point. After 14 games that relegation season, Newcastle had 14 points on the board which happens to be exactly the same total as this time around, however the circumstances are very, very different.

Back then, Newcastle were in total disarray. Kevin Keegan had walked away from the club a couple of months earlier and was preparing his constructive dismissal claim. His left-field replacement, Joe Kinnear, was busy alienating himself from the press and players alike (Insomnia) and the results were further alienating Kinnear, Derek Llambias and Mike Ashley from the fans. You could see that the players were playing with absolutely no belief amid a backdrop of anger from the terraces. The anger was directed at the owner and his 'Cockney Mafia' but the poisonous atmosphere transmitted itself onto the pitch at times. Player mistakes were greeted with hugely audible groans and you could feel the tension on the pitch and on the terraces.

This season's struggles don't compare to that at all. Yes, at Southampton the side looked half-paced and half-bothered, but that was definitely not the case at Stoke. Although grumblings about Alan Pardew as a manager have increased in recent weeks, the vast majority are still in favour of the man who led Newcastle to a very surprising fifth placed finish last season and so they should be. For years, Newcastle have chopped and changed managers at the drop of a hat and that approach has rarely worked.

We need to present a United front. I'm not saying this hasn't been the case so far but there is a danger that more vocal negativity is not too far away -- the booing at the end of home games for starters. The crowd needs to stop singling out the worst players too. I'm sure Mike Williamson knows that he is very lucky to be playing for Newcastle United football club and I am sure that he is more than aware of his own failings -- jeering each time he makes a mistake will only cause him to deteriorate even further and that is something Newcastle really don't need. The fact is that Williamson is starting because there aren't any alternatives -- even James Perch misses out through suspension on Monday. Blame the flawed transfer policy, not the few players we have to pick from.

When the St James' crowd get behind their team they really can be the proverbial 12th man. I've witnessed some fantastic winter evening game atmospheres at St James' and if that can be created again on Monday, the three points will be a lot easier to win. A big crowd would help too. It's easy to go along to the stadium for the games against the Manchester clubs and it’s a lot less appealing going along when Wigan are in town, but with things the way they are this game is vital and support is needed.

Newcastle need to get away from the 'excuses' mentality. We have injuries, but we have fewer injuries than Wigan do www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php

A win would take Newcastle up two places into 12th (unless Norwich beat Sunderland on Sunday). Wigan have earned some praise for their start to the season but going into the game they are below Newcastle, though only on goal difference.

A six-pointer vs Wigan in early December. Let's beat them.

Twitter: @MarcSDuffy

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