Leeds United v Newcastle United: don’t let them Monk us off

Newcastle United’s quest to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, continues on Sunday at Elland Road.

It couldn’t be a tougher match for the Magpies to get back into the swing of things. Leeds United are sixth in table, winning their last three including an impressive 3 – 2 win at Norwich. The match is promising to be Newcastle’s toughest test since beating Norwich 4 – 3 at St James Park.

Unbeaten at Elland Road since 1999, Newcastle are 20/21 with Sun Bets to win this weekend. It’s hardly surprising as the come into the match on the back of a seven-match winning streak in the Championship, conceding just six goals.

Jonjo Shelvey, pivotal in Newcastle’s surge to the top of the table, is available, having denied the FA’s misconduct charge relating to allegations that he used racially motivated language during the 2 – 0 defeat at home to Wolves in September.

If found guilty, he faces a five-match ban which would cause Rafa Benitez a problem. Consistency has been Shelvey’s problem in the past as he struggled to live up to the media hype after signing for Liverpool aged 18. This season, he has found a groove and believes that if he continues playing this well, he could be in line for an England call-up.

Another who might be looking in that direction is Dwight Gayle. England’s woes in front of goal. He is in his most prolific run of scoring as a professional with 11 goals in 12 Championship games. If he continues to bang in the goals at that rate, it will be a phenomenal season for a striker who is more used to being on the periphery than leading the line.

Both managers have praised the opposition’s supporters and Elland Road is expected to be a cauldron on Sunday. Leeds, inspired and in front of their own fans, are a force to be reckoned with but if Newcastle can keep them at bay for the opening twenty to thirty minutes, the infectious enthusiasm of the faithful will be dampened.

The Toon Army expects Newcastle to win and their support has been pivotal in the XI’s success on the road. Since the wake-up call of losing to Fulham at Craven Cottage on the opening day, the Magpies have won six and drawn one of the seven games. A lesson well-learned judging by the results.

Winning on Sunday is crucial to re-igniting the flame of the promotion charge. The disruption of the international break lost the momentum built; it’s up to the players to get back into their stride quickly.

94 thoughts on “Leeds United v Newcastle United: don’t let them Monk us off

  1. Fat Sam is available and Pardew was just given the dreaded vote of confidence. Was summoned to the US to see the American owners which is sort of weird since they only own 36% of the Club. Another death spiral and now under 1 point per game. He got the players he wanted and they have a decent team but he is doing what Pardew does. Next 3 games are Swans (a), Southampton (h) and Burnley (a). If they lose to Swans I think he is gone, but he probably needs at least 4 points from these games anyway.

    Sorry, Sharpy I know you don’t like to dwell but the Troysta is about Championing Clarky for getting a point per game and we all know how he was gloating when Pardew did a decent job to keep them from being relegated in his first season.

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  2. Even at this early stage, I think the bottom 3 of Swans, Mackems and Burnley might be set. They seem to have the worst players but we all know what Pardew can do even with a decent squad.

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  3. Kim
    Pickford is a good keeper to be fair, he’d be daft to stay there if they go down. I think PL teams will make offers for him.

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  4. I think tomorrow’s team might be fairly easy to predict for once?

    Darlow

    Anita Lascelles Clark Dummett

    Ritchie Hayden Shelvey Gouffran

    Diame Gayle

    I think the most likely change would be Yedlin for Anita but Little Vurn might have the edge because we are away.

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  5. Was just reading Pardew has the worst points per game of all the four divisions,a record

    ERIC that team is about spot on imo also I agree about the right back slot

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  6. DJG:
    Kim
    Pickford is a good keeper to be fair, he’d be daft to stay there if they go down. I think PL teams will make offers for him.

    agree mate, he has looked really good when I have watched them .

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  7. My mother always sends me the NUFC Official Calendar for Xmas. Usually about half are gone, injured or not in the team by about this time of the year. I don’t know who picks the players but this time they have surpassed themselves. 2016 selections:

    Colo
    Taylor
    Sissoko
    Krul
    Colback
    Anita
    Mitro
    Janmaat
    de Jong
    MBemba
    Wijnaldum
    Haidara

    By my count that means we have one survivor currently. 1/2 for Mitro and 1/2 for Anita = 1

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  8. Was reading how our loan players are doing on NUFC.com. I had forgotten that Henri Saivet is even our player and I think he cost like 5 mil and has 4.5 years left on his contract.

    I still think 1-1 at Leeds.

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  9. Eric, Aye mate , fed up with looking at Gini for November, Haidara is December. Just bought next years calendar, lets see who will still be relevant next year.

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  10. Any radio links Kim? I’m still backing is for 2-1. If we do win today, we will be looking very comfortable in the table.

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