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
Kim 1 or 2 I think we should go all out to give them a proper hammering and give us a lot of confidence 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Kim yeah we seem to be making a few silly passes etc the one fr4om Krul to Tiote there was a **** one
Big Dave(Quote)
Yellow
Big Dave(Quote)
Ref letting them off a lot now.
KIMTOON(Quote)
How did McCarthey get away with out a yellow there
Big Dave(Quote)
Colo 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Tiote’s got £10 on him to score in 90 minutes 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Tiote atleast find the target son, Cisse has really started to become a bit of a jack russell lately snapping at peoples heels
Big Dave(Quote)
Thats the best 45 mins in along time , would like too see Ferguson come on for Jonas last half hour though .
Axel(Quote)
Not a bad start first 45 but they will rejig things to not allow us so much freedom second half,pity we couldn’t capitalise more and demoralise them . Need to build on that lead 2nd half and get the 3 points and a good goal difference on the table.
KIMTOON(Quote)
More of the same in the second half please. Very good first half with lots to be happy with, even Simpson’s crosses. A goal for Cisse now and one for Santon as well. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Axel yeah it has been far better than most of the stuff we’ve had to witness this season.
I just hope we don’t come out and try to sit back and hold on, I want us to keep trying
Big Dave(Quote)
So atm Ba is sitting at the top of the goal scoring table with the beaver
Big Dave(Quote)
Think people are getting carried away a bit. Yeah it was OK, against ten men….
toonsy(Quote)
Tiote off, Bigi on. Bet that is to do with Tiote being on four bookings
toonsy(Quote)
Bigi on for Tiote
Big Dave(Quote)
Toonsy Caldwell of too I was hoping we would get at him
Big Dave(Quote)
Well done Krul. We need to wake up
Johno Toon(Quote)
feckin lucky there
richietoon(Quote)
Well hopefully that’s Wigan’s little burst over.
toonsy(Quote)
Well if we can’t hold on to a 2.0 lead at home v 10 men we’ll want shootin
Well done Krull ,c’mon lads .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santon fooked then. Fergie on
toonsy(Quote)
**** another injury
Johno Toon(Quote)
Santon out now 👿 ffs does it never feckin end this injury jinx
KIMTOON(Quote)
Hope Santons ok
Big Dave(Quote)
Nice wee bit of skill from Marv, pity about the finish
Big Dave(Quote)
Simmo should of done better with the lay off from Cisse ,by winning a throw it gave them time to get back and regroup ,he should of put the cross in . 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
FFS – Santon injured 👿 can’t believe our bloody luck this season like!! Hope it’s not too bad! Good luck to Fergie.
Got to keep it going in the 2nd half coz one thing about Wigan is they keep going til the final whistle.
Another goal or 2 would be lovely
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave ,Marv has looked good tonight.
KIMTOON(Quote)
wigan are a lot better so far this half
Big Dave(Quote)
Marv is looking very good
KIMTOON(Quote)
fuk we strung together about 8 passes there
Big Dave(Quote)
Kim yeah that was another lovely bit of skill
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave ,I knew they would come out better and our new injury doesn’t help AND Tiote having to be subbed hasn’t helped either.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Nice try Cisse
KIMTOON(Quote)
oh Cisse not bad try
Big Dave(Quote)
We should be pressing much more than we are and we do have the extra man.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Come on Lads
Big Dave(Quote)
This is **** now ,c’mon ffs , why let them have the ball so much 😕
KIMTOON(Quote)
Bloody hell Fergie 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Good challenge fergie
Johno Toon(Quote)
Bit of Celtic bite there 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
wee fergie like to get into a tackle 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Kim 😯 that was an Ulster bite 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Kim – what’s the matter with Tiote?, not injured is he? 😯
Are we still looking the better team here or what?
I want MORE goals!!!! 😈 😈 😈
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jonas another **** cross
KIMTOON(Quote)
For me I didnt notice any improvements from our last games. The only difference is that Wigan against us and they are 10 men.
We didn’t outplayed them with 10 men. They still have the possesion.
Ba and Cisse are still showing almost nothing together except the penalty action.
Ba scored a penalty and was in the good place for the second goal but nothing else.
For me we must control the game, tries some short quick passes.
The only decent player in the pitch was Santon, Marveaux and Anita
HBA39(Quote)
Dave ,SOZ 🙄
Sharpy ,no I think he was subbed cause he picked up a card
KIMTOON(Quote)
fuk me how did Boyce get away with that 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Bigiiiiiii 😀
toonsy(Quote)
wooooohoooooooooooooooooooooo 3 nowt Bigi
richietoon(Quote)
Oh yes!!!!
Johno Toon(Quote)
Class finish
HBA39(Quote)
Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
KIMTOON(Quote)
Bigi what a goal kid
Big Dave(Quote)
fuk that seemed to really please the Lad
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy ,you got your wish 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)
See- I was right. I came back to the blog, and now we’re DRILLIN’ the opposition. Guess this means I’ll be back all season now 😉
OHurley(Quote)
Dave it was superb ,excellent finish 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)
is it just me or does Ba never really seem to put himself about much or try too hard ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
OH….aye, but ya still a c@nt 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
OH @133 ,You can come again. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Anita nearly threaded a super pass through there and has been passing well
Big Dave(Quote)
Sammi on for Jonas
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oh @ 133 I thought you fell out with us
Big Dave(Quote)
Sammi yellow after 1 min 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sammi don’t be silly son
Big Dave(Quote)
Ref got his work cut out tonight mind
KIMTOON(Quote)
Another **** cross ,this is gettig tiresome now .
KIMTOON(Quote)
More i see Ameobi Playing, more i think he doesnt have talent
HBA39(Quote)
HAPPY FECKIN XMAS!!!!!!!
Well I want 4 now then – and a clean sheet would be class!! – crisis, what crisis??!! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
HBA have to disagree he does have natural raw talent but just seems to lack a brain 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Can you be more stupid than that?
HBA39(Quote)
Why did Ba play that then? Or why didn’t Cisse drop back?
toonsy(Quote)
Speaking of lack of brain…Cisse! 👿
richietoon(Quote)