Newcastle Eagles fly into tonight’s BBL Championship clash against Plymouth City Patriots looking for a fourth successive league win to keep their play-off challenge rolling.

It won’t be easy against a Patriots side who are also in great form having won seven of their last ten games.

That run has seen the Eagles’ visitors rise from the bottom of the league to play-off based seventh in the table just two places below Newcastle. The game which will be played out in front of an huge Geordie crowd certainly promises to be a spectacle worth seeing.

Newcastle’s recent upsurge in form has come down to two factors. Firstly, they are finally getting players back to full fitness and secondly the return to the black and white colours for the explosively athletic forward Justin Gordon.

Gordon has hit the ground running on his return to Tyneside and played in the last three Eagles games all of which Newcastle have won. Coincidence? Possibly but Gordon’s electric performances have certainly showed what he’s capable of and this time he has been able to do it in from of the Eagles fans.

“Everything’s been really good since I got back. It’s been s good start and I’m glad that we’ve gotten off to such a good one. But we have to continue it and I hope to get more and even more support from the fans out there for us and help us get that done.”

“It’s been really good to play in front of the Eagles fans. Not having to create as much of our own energy from the bench like we did last season. It’s been great to see the kind of support we get. I’ve been to some places but the support we get is special and way more than I have gotten at other clubs and we can’t take that for granted.”

Three games and three wins is certainly the sort of experience that’s helped not just Gordon to settle straight back into life as an Eagle but it has boosted an Eagles roster that hasn’t had the greatest of seasons so far.

“Coming in knowing things haven’t been going as great as they could have been tricky. But I joined and at the same time we got Louis (Sayers) back from injury and we now hopefully can keep guys healthy for the rest of the season so we can build that chemistry.”

The Eagles did defeat Plymouth down in the South West back in November last year by 99 – 74 but this is a much changed roster and more confident Patriots side they will face tonight.

“Plymouth have had a good stretch over the last few games so that makes it a tough game. But we’re definitely up for the challenge. We’ve had a couple of weeks off since our last game so that’s helped us push the full-on reset button.”

“We’ve taken the time to focus on ourselves a lot and as a team getting me fully integrated which has been part of my process as well which has been great. I’ve come back here to win a Championship. That’s always my goal and focus and what everyone plays the sport for.”

“I don’t think this team has seen their full potential yet and I hope we can come out against Plymouth and show we have the potential to be the last one’s to play and be the last one’s standing like we were last year.”

Having Gordon back in the rotation alongside the likes of Darius Defoe, Rahmon Fletcher and Louis Sayers has helped the team come together and when you add in the likes of Brandon Peel and Corey Johnson who both know how to win in The BBL along with the red-hot form of Wes Person Jr., things are looking brighter for the Eagles.

“We know what it takes especially the likes of Darius and Fletch who have been here longer than I have and they’ve won a whole lot more than I have. So, just following their lead of course and adding in what I can and getting comfortable with guys I haven’t played with.”

“It’s all about making things seamless for ourselves, translate that into our relationships on and off the court, come together and turn that into wins. That’s what we need to do against Plymouth and we’re confident we can.”

Tip-off as always on a Friday night at the Vertu Motors Arena is at 7:30pm and the game is set to be another sell out!