Premier League preview: Newcastle United v Stoke City
Oh, how the Premier League has missed Newcastle United.
Few clubs are able to provide as much entertainment and drama as the Magpies. Although this season, bizarrely, it hasn’t been boardroom problems, off-field altercations or player bust-ups which have attracted the headlines. It’s been purely for the football.
Thanks to some much-needed stability brought to the club by manager Chris Hughton, Newcastle have managed to produce a string of hugely impressive performances on their return to the Premier League and currently sit in sixth place.
A 6-0 win against Aston Villa last month has been far and away their most outstanding result of the campaign so far, but last week’s 1-0 away win against Everton and Wednesday’s 4-3 Carling Cup victory against the formidable Chelsea at Stamford Bridge certainly rank closely behind.
Today they welcome Stoke City to St James’ Park. Tony Pulis’ side have struggled in their opening five league matches, but have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks.
A last-minute Robert Huth winner secured Stoke’s first league win of the season a fortnight ago against Aston Villa, while a 2-0 victory against Fulham in the Carling Cup earlier this week was another indicator that the Potters have recovered from their poor start.
However, opposing managers have grown increasingly frustrated with Stoke’s heavy-handed methods during matches. Fulham striker Moussa Dembele became the latest casualty of the Potters’ fully-committed challenges in mid-week, and it’s an issue which threatens to cast a dark cloud over Pulis’ team.
However, it’s their physically robust nature which makes Stoke the team they are. Pulis ensures his players play to their strengths and he won’t be prepared to curb his team’s primary asset – competitiveness - for the sake of a few unhappy managers.
Fortunately for Newcastle, they have a team of individuals who don’t make a habit of shirking challenges, either. None more so than their forward Andy Carroll, whose huge frame and goalscoring exploits at the start of the campaign have led to suggestions that Fabio Capello is close to handing him a senior England call-up.
The Newcastle No. 9 has scored four goals so far, but faces stiff competition at the weekend for a place in the starting line-up from Shola Ameobi following his brace against Chelsea. The forgotten man at St James’ Park was in clinical form against the champions on Wednesday and duly got himself on the scoresheet with two very different, but equally impressive, strikes.
Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Alan Smith all provide steel in the middle of the park, while in defence, new-signing Sol Campbell should help sure up the back four alongside the rejuvenated Fabricio Coloccini.
This clash in physicality makes this afternoon’s encounter all the more intriguing. Expect to see a host of full-blooded challenges, more than a few bookings and possibly a sending off or two.
The last two meetings between the two clubs have both been draws, which suggests this weekend’s fixture will also be tight. But how Newcastle cope without the commanding Steve Harper in between the sticks is an area which could cost the Magpies.
Stoke are infamous for their set-piece prowess, and Hughton will be relying on a sturdy display from deputy goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Based on recent performances, both teams enter today’s match in similar form. But thanks to home advantage and their free-scoring strikers, Newcastle should record their first win over Stoke since April 1990, in this old-fashioned British bruising encounter.
Prediction: Newcastle United 3 Stoke City 2
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