Newcastle v Stoke – Premier League match preview

Magpies v Potters
Magpies v Potters
The games are coming thick and fast right now and after a 4,000 mile round trip during the week United must once again turn their attention back to the Premier League.

Stoke City are the visitors to St James’ Park with the Potters looking to record a league double over United for the second time in three years. The previous two seasons have yielded league doubles for both teams with Stoke winning at the Britannia and St James’ Park back in 2010/2011 only for United to level that up with their own league double (3-1 at Stoke and 3-0 at St James’ Park) last season.

A look at the fixture list for this weekend fills me with hope and dread in equal measure. It’s one of those weeks where teams around us and below us seem to be playing each other so a win would be handy whilst a defeat could drag us deeper into trouble. A two goal win will see us overtake Stoke in the table whilst a defeat combined with a Southampton win of any kind will see us drop one place in the league standings. That’s how finely things are balanced folks.

Newcastle:

United are hopeful that Papiss Cisse will have recovered from the illness that kept him out of the trip to Russia on Thursday. Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul are definitely out whilst there are unconfirmed reports regarding the availability Hatem Ben Arfa who, according to press reports, suffered a dead leg on Thursday night. Personally I think it seems funny that none of the local journalists have mentioned it but still…

Ryan Taylor and Haris Vuckic are both still sidelined however Alan Pardew will be boosted by the return of Yoan Gouffran and Mathieu Debuchy, both of who were ineligible to play in the Europa League during the week.

Stoke:

Matthew Etherington is struggling with a back injury but could still be selected by Tony Pulis. Michael Owen is actually fit to play after recovering from a thigh injury. Robert Huth serves the second game of his three-match ban after retrospective action from the FA was taken when TV cameras picked up Huth aiming an elbow at Fulham defender Philippe Senderos.

Previously…

Stoke turned things round late on at the Britannia earlier on in the season. Two goals in the final nine minutes gave the Potters the victory after Papiss Cisse had given United the lead just after half-time.

Overall our record is good against Stoke, especially at St James’ Park. United have hosted Stoke 38 times, going on to record victory on 27 of those occasions. There have been seven draws between the two sides with Stoke winning at St James’ Park just four times.

At both grounds, and in all competitions, United still have the upper hand. The total of 78 games have yielded 36 wins for the Magpies, 24 wins for Stoke with 18 draws making up the numbers.

Stats and facts:

Mike Williamson is still waiting to make his 100th appearance for United. Any appearance, even 10 seconds at the end of the game, will do!

Michael Owen is the deadliest marksman in the league this season. His one shot on target has yielded one goal meaning that he has a 100% chance conversion rate!

United have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the last ten league games and have conceded 23 times during this period.

Stoke have the worst form in the league when you count results from the turn of the year. In 2013 they’ve picked up just four points from eight league games.

Stoke have failed to score on 12 occasions this term meaning they’ve fired more blanks than any other team.

Stoke have only had 19 shots on target from outside the box in the league this season, 12 fewer than Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.

Final thought:

It’s another home game so the target simply has to be three points. We know what Stoke will bring and I’m always wary of looking at recent form as it can turn at any moment so we’ll need to guard against that. Tiredness might play a part after the long trip in midweek but I don’t see it being a problem as we rested/left behind enough first team players to inject some freshness into the side.

If we play to our potential we should win the game. Robert Huth will be a big miss for them and the thuggish nature of his play not being on display will benefit our attackers and allow them to do their stuff hopefully although they have other players who can be just as dirty. Just ask Arsenal…

Howay the lads!

Date: Sunday, 10th March, 2013

Time: 3pm

Venue: St James’ Park

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.

106 thoughts on “Newcastle v Stoke – Premier League match preview

  1. Toonsy ,good preview ,nice touch at the end there 😀

    Toon have to win ,simple as .We will soon be running out of teams we ‘ should be beating ‘ . I know there are no easy PL games but bloody hell we are surely better than them. 🙄 just hope our flair players arn’t kicked off the park and crocked for the run in.

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  2. A draw helps neither of them Kim.

    Think we can win OK tomorrow. Knowing that a 2 goal victory gives a clear target and I think we can achieve that. 3-0 to us

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  3. Good preview Toonsy although I have a funny feeling that Willo won’t be making his 100th appearance tomorrow 😀 he seems to have dropped of the radar ❓ .
    I will be well pleased with a 3-1 win

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  4. was going to say draws all round probably suit us but villa just got a second

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  5. I hope that Wigan 3-0 away win doesn’t provide them with too much momentum in the relegation run-in 🙁

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  6. penultimate game of the season – QPR vs NUFC

    sincerely hope that we’re safe and they’re down by then

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  7. We must avoid defeat at all costs tomorrow. A win would be ideal, but i won’t be easy.

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  8. 2-0 or better tomorrow and we go 12th – equal points with 10th place.
    Can see Stoke coming for a draw tomorrow as they don’t score loads of goals at the moment and a point would take them to 10th spot. Really hope we get at them tomorrow and attack them as we did Southampton.

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  9. Sharpy17 I fancy a hight octane fast tempo start from the toon, and an early 1-0 lead. We’ll go on to win the game, and set ourselves up for midweek. I hope Cisse starts the game, but without him we’ll still win 😉

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  10. Norwich seem to be on a roll, a sausage roll.

    They are being sucked into the relegation battle pdq…

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  11. Munich – I hope so mate, I think Upson will probs play if Huth is out and if that’s the case I can see us scoring goals. I reckon Tiote, Cabaye and Sissoko could really control the midfield and if we have Cisse, Benny and Gouffran up front they’ll turn them inside out. Debuchy down one side and Santon down the other is another threat.
    Really excited about this one like and can see us scoring 2-3 goals against Stoke, with their main threat being from set pieces.

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  12. Munich – Surely not under super Hoots 😯

    Win by two goals tomorrow and we go 11th. And if Chelsea beat Fulham aswell we go 10th 🙂

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  13. Toonsy, the bloke has legendary status amongst a lot of toon fans, me included, but we’ll really see what he’s made of over the next weeks. I fear they could end up as the surprise third team 🙂

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  14. TOONSY like your faith,but this one will be real tough imo pulis will right up for this one the way there slideing,divnt put the cart before the horse 😉

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  15. Toonsy – I put 12th but of course if we win by 2 then Stoke loose by 2 don’t they :oops:. I was just looking at our improve goal difference and forgot to take their worsen GD into account – what a bonus!!.

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  16. Ice – I reckon Pulis will come for a draw, but I know what you mean. I’m interested to see his team selection and formation, that will give a better. Walters is always a threat tho IMO and Crouch is one of those players who could nick a wonder goal out of nowt.

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  17. SHARPY aye mate walters has always been one of there better players imo but is having a real few stinkers lately hope it stays that way,hopefully we should have to much pace for them but must defend those high balls

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  18. I remember saying I thought Hoots looked a wee bit out of his depth in the Premier league and a few people usually huff and puff and quote the championship season. (Which by the way was a different league) I still maintain to this day (my opinion has never changed) that the bloke is out of his depth in the premier league, he will take Norwich down eventually if allowed, like he would us.

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  19. I remember being called a racist because I didn’t think Hughton was a good enough manager for us in the premier league. 😉 That is the sort of level certain people think at.

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  20. Ice – aye Walters has missed a couple of penalties recently which seems to have rocked his confidence, that and Stokes poor form.
    Don’t know about score line but I just don’t see us getting beat tomorrow TBH.

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  21. SHARPY by the way hows the two rips?one will old enough to go to match soon thats another few quid out the sky rocket mate 😀

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  22. DJG @ 32 I can remember being asked was I racist because I didn’t like Hooters and didn’t think he was good enough and that he should be replaced 😆 😆

    Ice what is your prediction for tomorrow or are you still giving them a miss ❓

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  23. Ice – tell me about it mate, had them over watching the Sunday league footy at the weekend, the lad couldn’t understand why he could join in and the pup couldn’t understand why he couldn’t eat the ball 😆
    Then on Thursday the lad sat and watched some of the match with me (not much coz he’s got a ridiculously short attention span) but did keep running round shouting toon army!. Then said lets go watch them dad – I think he thought they were playing on the same field as the Sunday league lads 😆

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  24. Ice it’s ok releasing Richie but if he can’t move because of too much grub then it’s a waste of time 😆 I’m surprised you got a collar to fit him ❓ or is it a belt you had to use instead

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  25. dave owen is fit and could make the bench 😆

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  26. its took 6 week to recover from the splinter in his **** 😉

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  27. Nah Batty he’s still recovering after his appearance on Family Fortunes.

    “And our survey says………. ******!”

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  28. BATTY your saying four nowt dave saying three one,now then who do i put my money on mmmmmmmmmmmmm? 😉

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  29. Batts I hope Mo does play tomorrow that will be one less to worry about 😉 oh and it’s nice to have you back on a bit more often, as it’s nice to have well mannered civil folk on here 😆

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  30. dog put what money on it have you been holding back on me 🙂

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  31. BATTY i woundnt dare hold back on you mate,ime getting sub off aussie,hope you take dollars 😉

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  32. People here are having a pop at Hughton again?

    You do realise Norwich are a team mainly assembled of lower league players for much less money than us – yet are still 3 points ahead of us and have been for almost the whole season?

    Yes, logic runs deep here.

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  33. Funky I don’t really give a **** what Hooters is doing or with who, I didn’t think he was good enough for us and thats my opinion so if I want to voice that I will even if you don’t think it’s logical 😉

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  34. Dave – And Martinez. And O’Neill. And Lambert who did much the same last season.

    Anyone else see that the Stoke team coach has broken down on its way up to newcastle? 😆

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  35. toonsy no is that true ❓

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  36. Pardew with money is better than Hughton without. We cannot direct the money hose, it is Ashley’s cash. If Ashley decides Pardew gets the goods then Pardew it is in my mind.

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  37. Should be an interesing game.
    Having Gouffran alongside of Sissoko and hopefully a fit Cisse, will certainly add both pace and scoring opportunities.
    HBA looked overweight and was nowhere near match fit in Moscow, in which case i would prefer to see Marveaux on the right.
    So looks like Tiote and Cabaye as the othr two midfielders, with Debuchy, Taylor, Yanga- M’Biwa and either Santon or Diarra, filling the back four.
    Actually nice to have the luxury of choice, without depending on the likes of Williamson.
    But as it now appears Collo may not be back, we should be looking for a replacement.
    Perhaps we may go Dutch..
    With Douglas and Siem de Jong, a big tough defender and a playmking second striker, who also gets his goals.
    As it appears Cisse could not play with another regular striker in Ba, who played a similar style to him, an opportunist.

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  38. Chuck – I would have agreed about De Jong but now I think Sissoko has pretty much nailed that wuthdrawn striker spot.

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  39. I ve got a good feeling about this game – 3 nil to the Toon 🙂 🙂

    PS: I’ve jinxed nothing you neggar basterds. 🙂 🙂 🙂

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