Two managers on the edge?Newcastle United travel to Manchester United on Saturday still searching for their first win of the Premier League season.
The Magpies were beaten 2-0 at home by Leicester City last weekend, with goals by Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire keeping Rafa Benitez’s side in the bottom three.
Newcastle have scored just four times so far this season and a long battle against relegation is beginning to look likely.
The visitors will be without both Florian Lejeune and Salomon Rondon through injury, but Paul Dummett and Federico Fernandez should be available after the pair missed the Leicester defeat. (more…)
Sticky Toffee time?Following on from last week’s facts on Blackpool I have decided to take a slightly different approach to this week’s preview of the trip to Goodison Park.
I am now going to try to incorporate more facts relating to this history between the two clubs as well as facts which relate to the big game along with the trivial facts of The Toffee’s to cast your eyes over. I hope you enjoy!
1. The record between the two clubs over the years is incredibly close. Out of 158 games, United have won 62 and Everton have won.. 62, with the the clubs drawing 34 times. The two clubs are even neck and neck for goals scored with United just edging it with 239 compared to 238 for The Toffees.
2. The bad news for United fans travelling down to Goodison Park however is that United have managed just five wins from the last 16 league visits to Merseyside in the Premier League, failing to win in the last 7 trips. United’s last win came in the 2001/02 season with messers Bellamy, Solano and Acuna netting the goals in a 3-1 win. Take some comfort from the fact United battled to a 2-2 in their last visit to Goodison Park in Joe Kinnears first game in the Newcastle hot seat. (more…)
Will we be record breakers?Less a match preview and more of a crowd preview, this article looks at the possibilty of Newcastle United supporters marking an entry in the Coca-Cola Championship book of records.
I am of course talking about the home attendance record. The visit of “local” rivals Middlesborough gives the toon a chance of building on what have been superb average home gates this season of 41,749, probably far better than any of us had imagined the gates would be after our relegation.
So far, our highest gate has been 43,949, but with St James’s Park’s full house capacity of 52,387 there is certainly scope for more!
Currently, the record for highest crown outside the premier league (since the premier league’s inception) is held by our enemies down the road, Sunderland, standing at 47,350. Now this was a game against Stoke City on May 8th 2005 and judging by the date, looks like it was a promotion party that day. (more…)
Coventry's Mascot: Micky Quinn?Flying high at the top of the table, 10 points clear of a play off place, Newcastle United face Coventry City on Wednesday evening aiming to extend their winning run to 7 games on the trot.
The Sky Blues, currently languishing in 20th position just above the relegation zone, will not be looking forward to facing an in form Newcastle United, especially as City have picked up only 4 points since beating Watford in late September. Matters will hardly have been helped after manager Chris Coleman slammed his side as ‘selfish’ following their defeat at Scunthorpe last weekend. Hoping to see a reaction from the players it may only demoralise them further.
If Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday have positive results this evening, the Sky Blues will have slid into the relegation zone come kick-off time at the Ricoh Arena. So it seems that nearly two years into his time at the club, Coventry are in the same position as when Coleman took over. He claims to have significantly improved the squad but at the moment the results aren’t playing out for them. To their credit, although the fans aren’t happy, they don’t seem to be calling for his head, having had their fill of watching the managerial merry go round over the years.
A big game could be just what is needed to kick-start an upturn in form for the Sky Blues. Alternatively they may continue their poor form then this game should be there for the taking for Newcastle. Westwood and Best have apparently been their best performers this season along with Clingan and Marcus Hall, so they should be the ones to watch at the 32,000 capacity Ricoh arena. (more…)
Hughton v Sousa: A defensive chess game at SJP?With 1983 the last time these two teams met in the league, it will be a rare encounter when the Toon and Swansea City meet at St James’s Park. With two naturally defensive minded managers pitting their wits against each other, we can no doubt expect a tight match from the two teams with the best defensive records in the league. In addition neither can be described as prolific in front of goal so little hope of a Keeganesque performance from either side.
The Swans are officially the in form team in the Championship winning 14 from the last 18 points and chasing their fourth successive victory.They’ve also chalked up an unequalled 10 clean sheets this season, half of which have been in goalless draws, so you have been warned. This defensive bias is clearly heavily influenced by Paulo Sousa the ex Portugal defensive midfield legend and good friend of Sir Bobby Robson. Sousa, who played for Sir Bobby at Sporting Lisbon and remained in regular contact with him until Sir Bobby’s death in July, was apppointed manager in the summer following the departure of Robert Martinez. (more…)
