Stevenage v Newcastle United match preview
Posted on January 8th, 2011 | 47 Comments |
Newcastle are 73 places above Stevenage who currently sit at 13th in League Two in what is their first season in the Football League.
This is the only Premier League v League Two tie of the round and I suspect neutrals will be hoping it results in a ‘Giant Killing’.
Truth is, it’s never as easy as the gulf in league positions would suggest to go to these places and dominate, so we should not be complacent.
We last played Stevenage in the FA Cup in 1998 when the then non-league team held us to a 1-1 draw to force a replay that we won 2-1 at home. Kenny Dalglish – our manager at the time – didn’t fancy that game at all and he complained about all manner of things from the size of the stadium to the quality of the balls. Kenny liked a good moan.
Team News
The Toon will be hoping that Leon Best has shaken off a heel injury he picked up during Wednesday’s West Hammering and there may also be concerns for Steven Taylor and Check Tiote, who both limped off clutching at their hamstrings on Wednesday.
Carroll’s thigh and Ameobi’s ankle definitely rule them out, as may Alan Smith’s knee and Sol Campbell’s leg, although Pardew is hoping the latter two will both make it through the fitness test.
Longer term injuries rule out Benny and Ryan Taylor but word has it that Dan Gosling is approaching match fitness.
So who will we put out on the pitch? There could be a start for Nile Ranger, particularly if Leon Best hasn’t recovered from his knock, but I have no idea whether Pardew will take a ‘Big Guns’ approach to this or maybe give one or two youngsters a run out.
As to Stevenage, there is no beginning to my knowledge about the League Two side but apparently defender Darius Charles will be unavailable due to serving the last of a three match ban. It also seems that Joe Byrom, Darren Murphy and Lee Boylan are likely to be available after shaking off injuries.
Chris Holroyd is Stevenage’s top scorer with 6 goals but his loan deal from Brighton ended at Christmas. Charlie Griffin and John Mousinho both have 3 goals each.
Outlook
Let’s face it, on paper we should win, particularly with confidence high after our last two games. Football is however played on grass rather than paper and I suspect it’ll be tricky to settle at Broadhall Way, so I’ll guestimate a modest 2-0 to us.
Kick off’s at 5:30PM and the match is live on ESPN.
HWTL.
Tight game I imagine today.
We’ll have a weaker side out I assume so it could be a 2-1 jobby.