Toon lock horns with Cloughie’s Rams.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 | 90 Comments |
I think we’re all hoping for a repeat of the performance against the Taffs last week, with us coming out to play good attacking football with virtually the same team that played last Friday. However our away form has not been brilliant to say the least. The positives are we have only lost one of the last six, but too many draws have seen us losing out on points which were very achievable. I’m hoping that the positive noises from Chris Hughton wanting to see more of the same type of perfomance we turned in against Cardiff means he may field an unchanged side, although with Smudge now recovered from his injury he may be tempted to slot him back in the team. Certainly, with two good attacking wingers in Gutierrez and Routledge, we should look more balanced and be able to switch the play a bit down both wings rather than the over reliance down the left we have seen most of the season.
The new additions to the team have done well. Like many of you probably, I was worried about the effect on the defence of three missing first team regulars, but the new lads have coped admirably so far and the new back four of Simpson, Hall, Williamson and van Aanholt have been solid.
So what about our hosts?
Derby County find themselves struggling down in 18th position in the league having picked up 33 points from their 29 matches. They have managed to pick up just two wins from their last six home games while losing three, and are not scoring enough having netted only 30 goals in 29 games, letting in 41 at the other end. This leaves them just above the drop zone, and Nigel Clough has come under a lot of pressure from Derby fans who have seen their team lose half of all games played this season. However the recent victory in their last home game over local rivals Notts Forest, and a decent draw against Sheffield United last weekend, when Robbie ‘Lily’ Savage scored a pretty rare goal, should lift the mood of the natives somewhat.
Team news.
Derby are without Dean Lealock (knee) and Lee Hendrie (hamstring), however they could welcome Milwall’s onloan winger David Martin to make his debut should his emergency loan signing be completed in time. New signing Javan Vidal will also be pushing for his debut. Midfielder Lee Croft could play some part after returning to training this week. Midfielder Michael Tonge made his debut at Bramall Lane on loan from Stoke City last weekend.
On the Toon side, Chris Hughton himself had this to say:
“Alan Smith is hoping to be back and Fabricio is doubtful with a slight hamstring. Colo could have played on Friday but we decided as a precautionary measure to leave him out.”
Add to this the longer injuries of Steven Taylor (knee) and Jose Enrique (hamstring).
Victory over Cardiff at St James’ Park extended our unbeaten league run to a club record 15 games, which we will look to extend further tonight. Talking to the Evening Chronicle yesterday Chris Hughton commented on the team, and the upcoming game:
“The team is not picking itself like it was early in the season.
“We want competition for places and when anybody comes in we demand certain qualities from them.
“They have to show the determination and spirit like we did on Friday night against Cardiff.
“I don’t mind having difficult decisions to make, that has to be a good thing.”
Moving on to Derby he said:
“They will be lifted by the result they got in their last game at Pride Park against Forest and they will have the belief they can pull off another big result.
“I’m expecting it to be tough, there will be a full house at Derby and they won’t be making it easy.
“We’ve got to harden ourselves to that though because this is what it will be like in the run-in from here on in.
“They will all be difficult because now we are not only looking for the victories to keep us where we want to be, but the factor that every team wants to beat us this season is also still very much against us.
“It would be great to go there and win. What we have to show is the same willingness that we have all season to go out and chalk up wins.”
Hughton concluded on our two main challengers:
“I don’t expect Forest and West Brom to lose many games, and if they aren’t losing that means we have to keep on winning enough matches.”
Possible Newcastle team: Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Hall, van Aanholt, Routledge, Smith, Guthrie/Nolan, Guttierez, Carroll, Lovenkrands,
With the top three teams winning at the weekend, United are currently three points ahead of West Brom and four ahead of Nottingham Forest, with a game in hand on both. This is a game we should win and hopefully, with a positive attacking performance, I’m going for a 2-0 win to the Toon and hope to watch a great performance.
Howay the Lads.
I do hope Chris Hughton drops Nolan and give him a rest. Partner Smith with Guthrie in the middle. :lol: