A win at all costs is what is required to put a temporary halt to an alarming run of form which has seen Newcastle start to look at the relegation spots rather than trying to replicate European qualification that we managed last season.
The fixture list has not been kind but that is the price you pay for being in Europe and now Alan Pardew must prepare his threadbare squad for three games in a week, starting this evening with the visit of Wigan Athletic, who themselves will be looking for three points for the very same reason we are.
As mentioned in my match preview, both sides have a whole host of players out of action this evening so both managers will have to try and make do the best with what they have available. Some other titbits from my match preview include a history of the fixture, recent for guide and some fun facts and stats ahead of the match. You can read it by clicking here.
The game is live on Sky tonight which is probably a bad thing given how we’ve been playing in recent weeks. However it’s a good thing if you want to dodge the cold or are unable to take advantage of the cheap tickets on offer this evening. There should be streams available so normal rules apply and if you come across a decent one please leave a link to it in the ‘comments’ section below.
As ever team news will be updated in full below as and when it becomes available.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon; Cheik Tiote, Vurnon Anita; Papiss Cisse, Sylvain Marveaux, Jonas Gutierrez; Demba Ba
Subs; Steve Harper, James Tavernier, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Nile Ranger
Wigan: Ali Al-Habsi, Maynor Figueroa, Gary Caldwell, Emerson Boyce, Ronnie Stam, James McCarthy, David Jones, Jordi Gomez, Jean Beausejour, Franco Di Santo, Aroune Kone,
Subs: Mike Pollitt, Romain Golobart, Adrian Lopez, Fraser Fyvie, James McArthur, Mauro Boselli, Callum McManaman
To be fair that’s not a bad starting 11 even if the bench is a bit inexperienced.
premandup(Quote)
Official site saying 4-2-3-1 but it could be 4-3-3 or even 4-4-2 😕
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy or a 4-3-2-1 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
This is it, this is when NUFC finally come good this season and turn on the style ..definitely…probably…maybe…possibly…probably not, but a 1 nowt win from an OG 5 minutes into injury time would do
richietoon(Quote)
Richie thats what I like about you straight to the point no messing about 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave….There’s no other way to be, or is there? 😕 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Nah Richie just say what you mean and stick to it
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave…Toon win then, no ifs or buts 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Go on Pardew lad!! – picking Marv and adding a bit of creativity to the team 😯
No complaints with today’s starting line up, and pleased as punch to see Pardew mixing it up abit.
Howay the lads!!!!!!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
loads of links here http://www.frombar.tv/c-1.html
a few on here http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
and here http://www.nutjob.eu/
..and no Dave I haven’t looked thru them 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie > and no Dave I haven’t looked thru them
I wouldn’t expect you to do that mate 😉 well not for another 10mins or so as it’s still a bit early to get one up and running 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
😆 😆 problem is my **** internet speed 2mb if I’m lucky, so once I find one I normaly stick to it. 😕
richietoon(Quote)
Feeling a little sick, nerves are a terrible thing 👿
C’mon lads you can do it ,it’s only Wigan 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy i’m pleased that it seems as if he’s trying something different but I guess we’ll have to see what shape the team sets up, but I have a feeling that it will be a 4-3-3 type only with Ba in the middle
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave I would prefer Cisse in the middle meself.
KIMTOON(Quote)
well Kim so would I but
Big Dave(Quote)
Lets get it on
Howay the Lads
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave you know what it’s like. If we lose we should have kept it the same or tried another fancy formation from Football Manager 🙄
toonsy(Quote)
HWTL
brisvegas(Quote)
Kim it seems as if Ba is the middle man with Cisse on the right and Jonas left
Big Dave(Quote)
We’ll see how it works out but would of thought Cisse is better central ,maybe they will swap around 😕
KIMTOON(Quote)
Toonsy 😆 yeah but I am glad that we’rs trying something a bit different and just maybe it will work 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Yeah both Tiote and Jonas are on 4 yellows
Well done Krul
Big Dave(Quote)
Well saved Krul ,cheeky feckers ain’t avin that like ,c’mon lads at em 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Wigan trying to get an early one to unsettle us and quieten the crowd
KIMTOON(Quote)
Cisse tackeling like a forward 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
pen
richietoon(Quote)
Penalty 😕
And a red card 😯
toonsy(Quote)
pen ,good work and a red
KIMTOON(Quote)
Pen
Big Dave(Quote)
feckin get in there Ba lad 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Get in there Lad
Big Dave(Quote)
Get in ,christ I was shitting it then 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
who said Ba doesn’t pass to Cisse 😉
richietoon(Quote)
but I hate playing against 10 men 😥
Big Dave(Quote)
We MUST make the extra man pay now .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ba ,that was wild and wasteful man 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
I would like to see Santon get on the score sheet tonight,
We need to keep pressing and not sit back thinking we are against 10
lovely shot Ba 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
ffs camakazi defending wtf 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
FFS what is Collo and Willo playing at 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
I’m nightshift the neet so missing the game, see we’re 1-0 up already which is class, but how are we playing and are we pushing for a 2nd or have we eased off them?
We’ve got to go for it now like!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave .we are always capable of stuff like that which is why we must press for another goal now and not let up imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Great strike by Santon there
toonsy(Quote)
Get in number 2 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ba get in
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy ,yeah we’re pressing 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Cracking shot from Santon 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy – Wigan started bright but we took the lead and their man got sent off. Only us in it now and it’s 2-0
toonsy(Quote)
Sharpy Ba on a hattie now. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Toonsy @ 43 😉 I had a feeling he would score so theres still time yet
Big Dave(Quote)
we seem to be prepared to chase them down and snap at their ankles which I haven’t seen much off this season 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Nice to see us hunting Kone down in packs .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dave 😀 snap
KIMTOON(Quote)
Come on Cisse we need you to score to stop the pundits telling us that they haven’t scored in the same game while both on
Big Dave(Quote)
wigan seem to be losing it a bit
Big Dave(Quote)
Good start from us. We were nervous til we got the goal. Need to keep it up and not let them back in the game. We could get a few more by the end of this.
Johno Toon(Quote)
They could still get a goal the way we defend at times 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Fook me 😯
Wigan will be lucky to end with ten men 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Thats it wigan just keep going in like that
Big Dave(Quote)
What a **** is that Gutierrez? every cross he mades is like that
HBA39(Quote)
**** cross Jonas utter **** after a good 1 2 between him and Cisse too 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Cheers Toonsy, gutted I’m missing this!! I really hope we don’t take our foot off the pedal and and get 3 or 4 – hell maybe even 5 😛
Kim – pay that man whatever he wants 😆
It also sounds like our CBs are being their typically shaky selves though 👿
Sharpy17(Quote)
so close
KIMTOON(Quote)
Tell you what, Anita seems to be coming on quite nicely. Playing well again
toonsy(Quote)
anyone got a link??? i dont have sky!! 😉
Nobby(Quote)
oh close there marv
Big Dave(Quote)
close but no cigar 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)
Nobby sorry Sky mate
Caldwell is a real lucky boy there one more and he’s away
Big Dave(Quote)
Bloody hell nearly
KIMTOON(Quote)
Wish Matt Le Tissier would **** off with his working mens club laugh 👿
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy – how’s Marv looking mate?
What formation is he playing?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave if he wasn’t on a yellow an d they wasn’t down to 10 he’d of been off i’m sure.
KIMTOON(Quote)
We need another 1 or 2 to take the wind out their sails really ,give em no way back.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy Marv looks decent
Toonsy yeah Anita has showed what he can do in a couple of games now
Big Dave(Quote)
Dodgy passing going on by us now 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)