Harper warns against complacencySitting at the top of the Championship, it’s tempting to think Newcastle United have had it easy but the truth is we’ve had to work hard to get points in some games.
On paper we’ve arguably got the best team in the Championship, populated by ex-Premiership players with skill and experience. There have been moments when this has looked true – phases in games when we’ve looked a cut above other teams in our ability to pass and keep the ball. But at times we’ve also looked a little overwhelmed when teams have come at us hard and fast, like Blackpool did.
Steve Harper has been warning that we mustn’t underestimate our opposition:
“We’ve had a good start to the season and with a quarter of the season gone we are happy with where we are.
“But there is a long way to go. We haven’t achieved anything yet.
“We can not afford to underestimate this division.
“There are 23 other teams in there who could all stop us from getting promoted. There are a lot of games in this league, more games than we are used to playing with a smaller squad than we are used to having. (more…)
Pre-match tableNewcastle can regain the top spot with a point at Blackpool, although we should be expecting 3 points from our visit to Bloomfield Road if we want to match West Brom and Middlesbrough who both won last night.
Blackpool are lingering in the middle of the table having taken 7 points from 6 games. They’ve only lost one match though and that was away to Leicester last weekend.
Before that, their season started with 4 draws: away to QPR, home to Cardiff, home to Derby and away to Watford. Their solitary Championship win came after that when they beat Coventry 3-0.
Blackpool have had a decent Carling Cup run too, dispatching Crewe and – most impressively – Premier League Wigan.
Blackpool strikers Ben Burgess and Gary Taylor-Fletcher have 2 league goals a piece this season, as does midfielder Charlie Adam who is Blackpool’s record signing at £500,000 from Rangers in August this year. (more…)
