Last season was a memorable one for Newcastle United, but many pundits started to write the Magpies off after a tricky November and December period which saw them suffer crucial injuries as they came up against some of league's top teams. However, that was all overshadowed by the sad death of Gary Speed in November.

The period started well for Alan Pardew's side, with a 2-1 with over Everton which included one of the goals of the season from Ryan Taylor, but they then suffered their first league defeat of the season as they slipped 3-1 to eventual champions Manchester City.

A 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United was a fine result but things started to go wrong against Chelsea, when Steven Taylor suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon as the Magpies lost 3-0.

Fabricio Coloccini also limped off meaning Pardew had to name a makeshift centre-back pairing of Danny Simpson and James Perch in a 4-2 defeat at Norwich. There were emotional tributes to Speed before a 0-0 home draw with Swansea, then came a disappointing loss to West Brom on Tyneside.

United beat Bolton on Boxing Day but ended 2011 with a loss at Liverpool and several so-called experts tipped Newcastle to slide down the table in the months ahead - but they were wrong. Club Photographers Ian Horrocks and Serena Taylor have created this gallery from November and December.

To read the third part of our 2011/12 Season Review, click on the button below.