IT WAS A BAD DAY FOR BOOKMAKERS. The overnight frost that prevented racing at Cheltenham brought discomfort to turf accountants, whose wallets were dented further by victory for the favourites in the 12.30 at Whaddon Road. Graeme Souness, backed heavily to be seeking work by the end of last week, allowed them to recoup a fraction of their losses.

Just as bookies have a survival habit, so, too, does the Newcastle United manager. The Scot remains vulnerable, but clings to his position with the desperate tenacity of a gambler chasing his losses. The avoidance of an FA Cup upset mitigates against the fractured relationship between Souness and his chairman reaching utter collapse.

League matches away to Manchester City and at home to Portsmouth may test the patience of Freddy Shepherd, who denied making contact with Sven-Göran Eriksson, the outgoing England head coach. “I must have amnesia as I can’t remember sending a text message to Mr Eriksson,” he said, without offering his backing to Souness.

Newcastle’s performance against Cheltenham was flat and awkward — and, in the case of their centre halves, far worse — but there was a nod towards optimism. Emre Belözoglu appeared as a substitute and, lacking fitness, gave his side impetus. Scott Parker, ill the night before, scrapped. Meanwhile, Kieron Dyer and Craig Moore today return to full training.

Three weeks after undergoing cartilage surgery, Parker fluked Newcastle’s second goal before sprinting to the dugout. “I wanted to show my support for the manager,” he said. “As a team we’ve been under pressure — rightly so at times, because we haven’t produced — but he’s taken the flak and protected the players, which is a measure of him as a man.

“Hopefully this will bring us some respite. This club is like sitting on a rollercoaster; things are either brilliant or awful., with nothing in between. We need to keep things quiet and go about our business. It’s really important we stick together. If we do that, we can pull through.”

Confidence will remain subterranean until a cycle of instability is broken. Injuries, brittle form, expectation and self-preservation entwine together poisonously, but Souness’s demeanour has been honourable. He is not faultless — his prediction that Jean-Alain Boumsong “will prove one of the best central defenders at the World Cup” stretched credibility — but his working conditions are unenviable.

“I’ve had problems, but I’m very fortunate,” Souness said. “I honestly don’t fear the worst about anything in life, except that something could happen to my family. My daughter Lauren wrote her car off last Thursday — she was in tears, but is OK — and that’s the biggest fright I’ve had. These are the things which are really important; after that, I’ll always give my best for whoever is employing me.

“When I signed a contract here, I did so in good faith and my intention is to honour it until the last minute of the very last day, unless I hear different. My players are 100 per cent behind me, but if you don’t have your best players on the pitch, you don’t play your best football. As a manager, I have to believe we’ll turn the corner.”

There was luck against Cheltenham, who were admirable opponents. Kayode Odejayi, a £5,000 signing from Forest Green Rovers, tormented Boumsong, but from his one clear chance missed an open net. By then, Newcastle were two goals clear through Parker and Michael Chopra, both scored shortly before half-time. The odds are weighted against him, but Souness ploughs on.

Cheltenham Town (4-4-2): S Higgs — J Gill, G Caines, M Townsend, C Armstrong — J Melligan (sub: A Vincent, 86min), J Finnigan, D Bird, B Wilson — G Guinan (sub: D Spencer, 74), K Odejayi. Substitutes not used: S Duff, S Brown, A Connolly

Newcastle United (4-4-2): S Given — P Ramage, T Bramble, J A Boumsong, C Babayaro — N Solano (sub: E Belözoglu, 59), S Parker (sub: A Luque, 76), L Clark, F Ameobi — A Shearer, M Chopra (sub: C N’Zogbia, 66). Substitutes not used: R Elliott, S Harper

Referee: M Riley