Tactical rethink? Or just unlucky?Newcastle United lost 4-3 away at Blackburn last night in the Carling Cup, which probably ended the club’s best chance of lifting a trophy this season.
I’ve never really been one for the League Cup, seeing it mainly as the poor relation to the FA Cup, but when a place in the last 8 is looking possible it starts to become a little more important.
It was not to be however as Blackburn were up to the task, either in spite of or because of their lowly league position, and although we twice levelled the game they persevered and won out.
After the game, Alan Pardew said:
“I don’t like the tag of gallant losers but it was a fantastic effort and the fans would have appreciated the effort we have put in.
“Sometimes events just go against you and events certainly did tonight. But the players don’t know when to give in, we kept going and two great hits got us back into the game, but tiredness cost us at the end.
“If we are going to go out of the cup that’s how it should be – giving it everything.” (more…)
Battling for a place in the last 8Good evening and welcome to the match banter thread for tonight’s Carling Cup tie between Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.
A place in the last 8 beckons for one of us and I’d quite fancy our chances at this one if it wasn’t for a strange sense of foreboding I’m feeling about the game.
As you all know by now, I’m blessed with more than the mere 5 senses of normal mortals and both my 17th and 23rd sense are tingling slightly. Although that might just be the curry I had last night.
Without Cheik Tiote (knee) and Steve Taylor (conk), Pardew will be forced to make a few changes and it will be interesting to see who gets the nod. I wouldn’t be surprised to see appearances by Smith and Perch in this game and I reckon Benny will get a starting place up front with either Ba or Best. But I’m just guessing. . (more…)
Alan Pardew and Steve Kean: Old friendsHello and welcome to our review of what the managers have been saying in the run up to Newcastle United’s League Cup game with Blackburn Rovers, which kicks off at 8PM this evening at Ewood Park.
For an in depth preview of the match, please check out our match preview, in which I take a look at the team news, previous stats between the sides, squads, possible selction and tactics etc. We will also be running our usual “match banter” feature during the game, which will go out around an hour before the kick off.
With Blackburn already fighting for survival at the foot of the Premiership, and Newcastle United currenty riding high in fourth place, it might seem that Blackburn would be the underdogs in this League Cup battle. However, Blackburn will have the home advantage, and Newcastle United’s Silver Supremo, Alan Pardew, has insisted that this will be a tough game, but that he will definitely be going for the win. Though he has been very cagey about what team he will be putting out, he insisted to BBC Radio Newcastle’s “Total Sport” programme:
“We want to win, we want to win it. Don’t worry about that!”(more…)
It's a dog's life at Ewood Park at the moment!Venue: Ewood Park, Blackburn. Date: Weds, October 26th, 2011 Kick-off: 8:00pm Referee: Robert Madley.
This evenong’s game sees Newcastle United facing a struggling Blackburn Rovers side for a place in the last eight of the League Cup.
Alan Pardew has been saying he has no worries of relegation and that he will definitely be going for a win. Meanwhile, embattled Blackburn are currently lying right at the bottom of the Premier League, and survival in the highest division will undoubtedly be their highest priority, especially after what happened to last years winners, relegated Birmingham City. On the other hand, Blackburn will have home advantage at Ewood Park, and as we all know, anyhting can happen in a cup game!
Stats, previous matches etc…
Blackburn have actually gone one better than Newcastle in the League Cup, having won it in 2002 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the final. Newcastle’s Previous Best was as losing finalists with the Gordon Lee “Dream Team” in 1976, when we were beaten by the same scoreline, 2-1, by Manchester City. (more…)
The Silver Supremo: Greedy for silverware.Speaking in a rare interview, this time for BBC Radio Newcastle’s “Total Sport”, Alan Pardew has given his strongest hint yet that he no longer fears relegation, and will go all out for the FA and League Cups.
When he was asked by Total Sport listener, “Liam,” on whether going further in the League Cup would be a “realistic target”, and whether he would be fielding a full strength side in Wednesday’s fourth round tie against Blackburn Rovers, the Silver Supremo was unusually secretive, but for obvious reasons.
He started by saying:
“I knew this was a question that was going to come up today! And Mick (Lowes) will tell you that I sidestepped it this morning and there’s a good reason for that. I think that Blackburn will be watching everything I say and I don’t want to give them any indication of what I’m going to put out, because they’re in a situation where they have real pressure on them in terms of the bottom of the table. So I’m going to watch their selection at the weekend. I’m going to watch how they approach this game. I know how I’m going to approach it, I’ve already made my mind up. So I’m afraid I’m not going to give you any clues on that!”
