Magpies v Throstles - Who will get the juicy 3 point worm?Good evening Geordies and welcome to our latest “match banter” feature for this evenong’s game, which will be yet another battle of the birds.
First it was Magpies v Canaries, then Magpies v Swans, and now the Mags find themselves battling the Throstles of West Bromwich Albion for a juicy three point worm. “Throstle” is an an English name for the Eurasian song thrush, and though you’d think the poor little song thrushes would have no chance against the mighty Magpies, they have proved to be fairly tricky customers in the past and we haven’t been racking up the results as we did in the earlier part of the season, with no win in our last five games.
Before I forget, please excuse me for the lack of our usual “match preview” feature this week, which was cancelled due to the horrors of Christmas. I shall endeavour to make up for that somewhat by incorporating a kind of mini preview into this article, starting with previous encounters, and then a bit of team news.
Baggie Bird: Ready for a stuffing?The Magpies go head to head again, only 6 days after meeting in the league in an action packed 2-2 draw at St James Park. You may remember that the clubs both drew at the beginning of the season too, so will the deadlock be broken this time?
With reports that Peter Lovenkrands will be rested after two trips to Denmark in the past week following the death of his father, and Danny Simpson probably out with an ankle injury, it will herald a changed Newcastle team compared to the one that played on Monday evening.
Chris Hughton is likely to give some of the youngsters an opportunity to make an impact with Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar and Nile Ranger likely to be in contention. Hopefully, Shola, will move his backside tomorrow as he was ineffective and immobile on Monday evening. I can’t see Chris Hughton starting Ranger, probably preferring Carroll to partner Ameobi but let’s hope Ranger gets a decent run out at some point in the game. Pancrate is another player who travels and may be used in our less than mobile midfield. The injury to Danny Simpson may also force changes at right back, with Ryan Taylor likely to take up the mantle. Danny had a bit of a torrid evening on Monday, but how much of it was down to him picking up a knock it’s hard to say.
Whether Roberto Di Matteo decides to makes changes to the Albion team that lined up effectively on Monday remains to be seen, but the likelihood is he will also use the opportunity to rest some players with a large part of the long championship season still to come. With fit again forward Miller coming on for the substituted Bednar, it could be he starts on Saturday to build up his fitness. (more…)
