Wolves vs Newcastle United match preview
Posted on September 30th, 2011 | 30 Comments |
Date: Saturday, October 1st, 2011
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Mark Halsey
Unless you’re heading to the wonderful West Midlands on Saturday, it’s time once again to scour the net for streams of Newcastle United’s visit to Molineux, as the Magpies take on Mick McMackem’s Wolves.
Newcastle United are still undefeated this term, including our two fixtures in the League Cup. Our unbeaten run now stretches to eleven competitive games. Under Alan Pardew, Newcastle have started picking up points, against the teams in which under Chris Hughton, we failed to do. Credit must be given to Pardew, as United have started the season in great fashion and currently occupy 4th place in the table. Whether or not we have been lucky in some of our results this season, Newcastle have looked better as each game progresses, and were outstanding in the recent games against Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers. I’m sure 99.9% of the Toon Army, didn’t expect us to be undefeated at this stage of the season, and tomorrows encounter versus an indifferent Wolves side, gives us a really good opportunity to extend our undefeated start to the season as we approach the early October international two week break. Who’d have thought that would be a possibility at the start of the season?
Wolves, like Newcastle, had a flying start to the season, with two back-to-back victories over Blackburn (away), and Fulham (home). Their next Premier League match was a goal less draw at Villa Park, followed by two home defeats versus Tottenham and QPR. Their last outing was at Anfield, where £40.5 million worth (haha) of Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique helped defeat Wolves 2-1. In their three home matches this term, Wolves have scored two, and conceded five. It must be noted however, that in the last round of the League Cup, Wolves despatched of Millwall 5-0 at Molineux. Newcastle have scored only 2 goals away from home in the Premier League this season, though again it must be noted, that we scored four at Nottingham Forest in our last league cup match. So with Wolves not scoring freely at home, and the Magpies less than prolific in front of goal away from St James’ Park, don’t expect a high scoring encounter.
Wolves will undoubtedly be joyful over Kevin Doyle recently signing a new contract, as are most Magpies fans, over Jonas Guiterrez extending his stay on Tyneside this week. The mention of Doyle, brings me to his strike partner Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who scored both Wolves goals against us last term, in the 1-1 draw at their place, and the 4-1 win at ours. Sylvan will be missing this time however, as he is suffering from a knee injury. On to the squads…
Team news
Wolves (From): Wayne Hennessey (G), Doris de Vries (G), Richard Stearman, Roger Johnson, Christophe Berra, Stephen Ward, George Elokobi, David Edwards, Michael Kightly, Kelvin Henry, Jamie O’Hara, Matt Jarvis, Steven Fletcher, Kevin Doyle, Sam Vokes.
Newcastle United (From): Tim Krul (G), Rob Elliot (G), Ryan Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Steven Taylor, Danny Simpson, Davide Santon, Shane Ferguson, Jonas Gutierrez, Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Gabriel Obertan, Mehdi Abeid, Dan Gosling, Danny Guthrie, Hatem Ben Arfa, Leon Meilleur, Demba Ba, Peter Lovenkrands, Sammy Ameobi.
Mike Williamson and Haris Vučkić are still out injured. The latter of the two has a hand injury; Yes, that’s right, a hand injury. Mike Williamson seems pretty banged up, as the majority of newspapers STILL think he has a broken arm. Couple his supposed ‘broken’ arm, with his actual ankle injury and you have to wonder what he’s been up too. Davide Santon managed 90 minutes in our mid-week reserve team outing, so he’s in the squad, but I’m doubtful as to whether he will make an appearance. Hatem Ben Arfa is back of course, but he’ll likely start the match on the bench, as the deadly duo of Demba Ba and Leon Best look likely to continue their impressive partnership up top tomorrow afternoon.
Wolves have Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Kevin Foley, Cambridge United legend, Jody Craddock, and Ronald Zubar all unavailable. Richard Stearman is rated as doubtful. Mick McMackem will likely employ a 4-4-2 formation with Steven Fletcher partnering Kevin Doyle in attack. With Matt Jarvis and Stephen Hunt operating the wings. Expect Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor to have to be alert if Newcastle are to take anything from the match. This will be an interesting encounter, especially since United will almost certainly mirror Wolves tactical game plan of utilising the wings and crossing early. It will be the centre of the midfield where the game will be dictated most evidently, with the superior Tiote and Cabaye facing off against Kelvin Henry, though I do like Kelvin’s midfield partner Jamie O’Hara.
Probable Formation
Waffle
Wolves don’t score many at home. Newcastle don’t score many away from home. You would be hard pressed to see many goals being scored tomorrow afternoon then, and a low scoring draw looks likely. If Wolves were to lose it would be their fourth straight premier league defeat, and in fairness, they are not a bad side. They were unlucky at Anfield last week, and I’d imagine they will perform well tomorrow. This however is a great chance for Newcastle to enter the international break in 3rd place, and with the confidence of the manager, right through to the team and the Toon Army, I expect United to have picked something up come Saturday evening.
Howay The Lads.
NUFCBlog Author: Jimbob
Backpacker extraordinaire and current resident of sunny Sheffield. Loves Marmite, hates peanut butter. Sleeps twice a day, wrestles Polar Bears because he can and regards himself as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce.
Jimbob has written 40 articles on this blog.
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