Game on! Newcastle v Blackburn

A return to more familiar surroundings
Welcome one and all to our fantastic ‘Game On’ article which this week will take us through the build up, the game, and then the aftermath of the Newcastle v Blackburn tussle at St James’ Park.

It’s been nearly a month since Newcastle played a match on home turf, yet we still remain unbeaten. With the greatest of respect to Blackburn, they are a team that we should be looking to beat in front of our own fans with the aim of extending our unbeaten run to 11 games.

Perhaps that is why I feel so apprehensive about the match. Blackburn do notoriously well at St James’ Park and are looking for the sixth successive win on our home patch. They are a bogey team, of that there is little doubt.

Still so were Villa and so were Fulham but we managed to get results against them pair. I just hope we can continue that trend this afternoon. Not that I’ll be able to watch it of course as I’m at work. I’m not bitter about it, honest…

Those of you who are going to the game today could well be in with a treat. A rare treat in fact. You may well get the chance to spot the elusive Hatem Ben Arfa in a Newcastle shirt for the first time in nigh on a year. With a place on the bench seemingly nailed on I think it’s pretty safe to say that we may see a little cameo from the Frenchman this afternoon.

For those that aren’t going I feel fairly confident that you’ll still be able to see the team in action. The match is being broadcast on numerous channels overseas so the chances of a stream at the moment seem fairly decent. Obviously if you find a really nice one, or one that doesn’t stop and start every few seconds, then please feel free to share the link with your fellow NUFC fans.

The match preview is here for you to peruse at your leisure should you choose to do so. Contained within it are some fun match facts and player stats, news of injuries for both sides aswell as a stab at trying to name the team. Have a look if you haven’t already done so.

That is just about it really. Hopefully we can extend our unbeaten run in front of our home fans with a nice performance to boot. You never know, if we get a win and a decent performance it may take just a little bit of attention away from those garish Sports Direct signs that appear to be popping up all over the place!

I will endeavour to get the match report written up in it’s entirety when I get in from work so it should be with you first thing on Sunday morning including highlights, interviews, etc. The whole shaboodle basically, so be warned that it may be a long one!

Howay the lads!

Team news is as follows…

Newcastle:
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini (c), R Taylor; Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Best, Ba
Subs:
Harper, Perch, Guthrie, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands
Blackburn:
Paul Robinson; Michel Salgado, Christopher Samba (c), Scott Dann, Gael Givet; Junior Hoilett, Steven N’zonzi, Jason Lowe, Martin Olsson; Mauro Formica, Yakubu
Subs:
Mark Bunn, Grant Hanley, Vince Grella, Radosav Petrovic, Simon Vukcevic, Ruben Rochina, Jason Roberts

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.

385 thoughts on “Game on! Newcastle v Blackburn

  1. Michael.
    IF we get a spot in Europe this season AND we buy a decent LB, CB cover and another decent striker AND see the sale of players like Lovenkrands and Shola next summer RATHER than the sale of Tiote, Cabaye, Coloccini or who ever else is deemed to have had a good season . .
    then (and only then) I will happily hold my hands up and say “Wow, I got Ashley all wrong. He’s a stand-up guy and he loves us with every ounce of my being”, I’ll also start going to every game (work permitting) again and spend money on merchandice after every match.

    If the new nirvana is not delivered, if Ashley is not a panacea for all our woes and those things DON’T occur I trust you will admit he is not the messiah, that he is just a very greedy boy, and instantly desist in spending any more money on matches or merchandice etc etc etc

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  2. If we win the league and the cup, I’ll still hate Ashley. If my ex wife jumped me and gave me the best mind blowing sex I’d ever had, I’d think **** me she’s doing that right………but I’d still feckin hate her 😉

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  3. Bris…. 😆 I wouldn’t hate her for that, but I’d still hate her for things that happened in the past 😉

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  4. Newkie,

    It’s a bit off to expect Brum to resist Man City, is it not, lol. 25% of Man City would pump us nevermind the current Birmingham team. You can’t comment on that match really.

    Also, not all their young players are as good as Redmond, or you’d hear of them. That’s like saying all our current youngsters are helpful to the first team because Sammy Ameobi has done well. Vuckic is a sick note and the others aren’t looked at as up to it yet, while Kadar has been abducted by aliens seemingly.

    I do agree though, as a Hughton backer myself, people got a bit too into it all. My issue is the lack of respect shown during the saga, it’s just scummy. Still don’t think the results were anything close to sackable either but it’s done now.

    Brum with a few smart loan deals are promotion chasers though. Karma would say those loans be from us too, that way everyone wins in the end.

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