Blackburn v Newcastle – Match preview.

toonsy

Destination: Blackburn.
As bogey teams go, Blackburn take some beating – literally!

For the last four years we have been beaten home and away by these Lancashire tosspot’s, but now the time has come to, hopefully, change that.

I haven’t got much time for Blackburn, although I don’t quite know why, and it annoys me that they seen to have some sort of trump card against us and always manage to pull off a result regardless of the form that either side is in at the time.

Newcastle will have a secret weapon tomorrow though, and I’m not talking about new boy Shefki Kuqi, although he will go straight into the squad tomorrow against one of his many former clubs. Instead I am talking about the nearly 5,000-strong Toon Army that will be invading the town of Blackburn and will most probably end up in The Fernhurst pub – a focal point for away fans in Blackburn.

Nile Ranger and Leon Best will be fit to feature against Blackburn after shaking off injuries that kept them out of midweek international action. Shefki Kuqi, as already mentioned, will go straight into the squad.

Shola Ameobi is off to get his protective mask for his cheek injury whilst Dan Gosling, Hatem Ben Arfa, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Stephen Ireland and Alan Smith all remain sidelined.

I expect us to name a team that is not to different to the one that started the Arsenal game last weekend. That will leave us lining up with a team consisting of:

Newcastle: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Cheik Tiote, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands.

Blackburn will be without Gael Givet and Phil Jones whilst there are doubts over the fitness of Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina. Roque Santa Cruz is fit after shaking off a groin injury that has kept him out of the last two games.

Last time out Blackburn lost 4-3 away to Wigan in a match that was almost as exciting as our own against Arsenal. In that match they lined up with a team of:

Blackburn: Paul Robinson, Michel Salgado, Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Martin Olsson, Brett Emerton, Jermaine Jones, Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Hoilett, Benjani Mwaruwari, Jason Roberts.

The man in the middle will be Stuart Attwell, and hopefully he can avoid some of the controversy and contentious decisions that tend to follow him around. I’m not holding my breath on that one though as I simply don’t rate him as a referee after he allowed an almost continual assault on Joey Barton earlier on in the season against Wolves.

Kevin Nolan still awaits his 50th Premier League goal whilst Steve Harper, after nearly 18 years as a Newcastle player, looks set to make his 100th Premier League appearance for the club.

Blackburn go looking for a seventh consecutive win over Newcastle, and they have managed to win all of their games against promoted clubs so far this season, which doesn’t bode well. Jason Roberts, scorer of the winning goal at St James’ Park earlier in the season, will make his 400th league appearance if selected.

The game is a regulation 3pm kick-off over here in the UK, so wherever you are in the world don’t forget to keep an eye on the time. Hopefully we can all see Newcastle end this jinx against Blackburn, and hopefully the lads and lasses who are travelling have something to shout about come the full-time whistle.

Howay the lads!

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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162 thoughts on “Blackburn v Newcastle – Match preview.”

  1. Our fullbacks need to be on top form as Holliett is a real handful. If we play long ball to Best I can see Nelsen getting the better of him every time like hangeland did. Even though Leon Best is world class.

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  2. Admittedly, as am American, I am curious to see how Jermaine Jones does.

    It’d be really nice to gain some points here. Kind of an interesting game. Bottom of the top (half of table) vs. top of the bottom (half of the table). Tied on points but NUFC with superior GD.

    MDS, is it on FSC tomorrow by chance?

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  3. NorCal-

    What’s up, buddy? I’m with ya on Jermaine Jones. Will be interesting. And gimme a sec- I might can see if the game is televised. What time does it come on?

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  8. dang it…messed up the emoticons again… 👿

    Just click…remember…just click…

    Need a Preview Post button Toonsy to help out the blogging challenged like myself.

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  9. I think its’ on Fox Soccer TV- I believe that’s the web deal that costs a few bucks but you can watch it online in good quality.

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  11. Richie…I keep dragging them to the post vs. just clicking on them.
    When I drag, it leaves that whole link…vs. just clicking.

    I’ll get it right some day…I just need to practice using them more. 😐

    The problem is, it totally makes me look like an idiot…i can do that in SOOO many other ways. 🙂

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  20. I think it was Shola and judas up top? Think we were on a good run with that up until that game?

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  23. Cannae see what Lovenkrands will bring to the table tomorrow. The guy is so out of form its unbeleivable. Guthrie in the middle. Tugboat pushed up to support Best.

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  25. Toonsy or anybody who knows

    What’s the crack in and around the ground? Restaurant bars etc.
    Is it in the town centre?
    Are the natives friendly?

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  27. Toby-

    Hate to say it, but I agree about Lovenkrands. Really wish he could find his form again, but I’m afraid he’s a bit out of his depth.

    Is Ranger still injured? How long is he out for?

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  28. Blackburn are also a team I just absolutely can’t stand…I suppose they;re better now they’re rid of Fat Sam as they’re football was shocking too..but I still can’t stand em. Players throughout the years always seem to have been pr1cks with the exception of Shearer who basically won them their title when they bought the league all those years back. Doesn’t help that I know a few right tw@ts that support Blackburn and maybe that has soured my opinion.

    Anyway, I’m not sure over Loven or Guthrie really…With loven it gives him the chance to finally hit form-but do we risk it and then let him contribute nothing if he doesn’t score? Guthrie is also a liability really, still I guess if either of them mess around we can bring ranger on early. I’d like to see Nolan playing higher up so I guess i’d go for 4-5-1 with Guthrie in the middle.

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  33. Was the last time we won there when Martins rolled the ball into an empty net in stoppage time. What year?

    I remember going there when Keegan was a player. Sure i remember David Mills scoring a screamer but that was when i was younger and probably pissed out my mind. happy days

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  34. i rate that pederson,with jonas on his way imo in the summer hes not a bad one to look at, dont know his age like 😉

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  37. Toonsy it was deginately pederson. I remember someone nicked the ball off Tiote and fired it in accross goal from the top right of the box

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  39. Pardew – “We paid huge sums of money for Peter (Lovenkrands) and Besty so he’s never going to challenge them unless he rises to the occasion, comes on the pitch and attacks it. I’ve just got a sneaky feeling he might just do that, he’s got that sort of character.”

    What bullshit has Ashley been telling Pardew?

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  44. Lads Re Lovens hows he supposed to get a bit of form without games 😕
    As for huge sums of money Lovens was out of contract and Best was £1 mill and a yrs supply of Sports Direct seconds 😆

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  50. DAVE think he could of gone shopping richie said there was 50%off at anne summers when he went this afternoon 😀

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  51. Ice funny enough Richie told me earlier that you were telling him about the 50% off, he said he meet you coming out with a couple of brown bags and a foot pump

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  59. Leave Loven alone,
    he found his level last season and helped us get promoted. Recall the game against WBA when he scored within days of his father dying…yes he has struggled this season and is not EPL class, but REMEMBER what he did last season 13 GOALS.
    Guthrie is ****…………
    Jonas is bloody awful and in in particular away from home…sell him.
    HBA wil be a revelation when he returns.
    RANT OVER…………………
    hwtl xxxx

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  62. Guthrie is one to keep IMHO. How people can slate him and not mention Smith, (who is on about 6 times the wages and about half as useful).

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  69. Guthrie was good last season, so how is it an excuse for **** Lovenkrands but not Guthrie.

    IMHO Lovenkrands will never be good enough for the prem and in fact is finished, internationally and in first divisions.

    Guthrie has had a few poor games this season but he has played many more prem games than Lovenkrands and rightly so. He has and will make it again in the prem.

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  73. Big Dave
    Posted February 11, 2011 at 9:22 PM
    DJG did you get the Robin sorted for the trip

    Nah mate, it needs a new engine. Anybody got a hairdryer goin spare. 😆

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  75. Didn’t Loverman and Best combine wellagainst West ham? I’m curious to see if it was because WHam suck or if they actually have good chemistry up top.

    I know we all want to see Ranger in action, but I’d like to see if there is a real connection or if it is just my bad memory/suck-tastic West Ham that made them seem better than they were.

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