Newcastle v Sunderland – Derby Day match preview

toonsy

Magpies v Mackems
Magpies v Mackems
There is literally no need for me to waffle on in an attempt to build this one up. It’s big enough as it is.

Tyne-Wear derbies are always hotly contested affairs and I have little doubt that this one will be any different. In fact you could say that this one has some added edge to the game.

Both sides have hardly been pulling up trees domestically this season and both sides languish in the lower half of the table. Admittedly United’s position is slightly better than that of the Mackems but the carrot of three points will be an incentive for both sides who have their own agenda to look after, but they could also have a say on how the rest of the season pans out for the opposition.

A home win and we can pretty much forget about relegation and start tentatively looking forward to next season, all whilst dropping those pesky inbreeds deeper into the brown stuff. An away win would give Sunderland hope and would drag us back into the relegation mix although I don’t wish to contemplate losing this game. A draw is no good to either side really although you could probably say that it would be worse for Sunderland than it would be for us.

Newcastle:

Yoan Gouffran and Mathieu Debuchy are eligible to play after missing out against Benfica. The latter of the two has been injured but could return to action tomorrow.

Another recent absentee who could be available is Cheik Tiote while Steven Taylor should be fine to return to the starting XI after sitting out the draw against Benfica. Hatem Ben Arfa came through his Europa League return unscathed but a lack of football means he will have to make do with a space on the bench. Sylvain Marveaux is also available.

However we are without Ryan Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Davide Santon and Fabricio Coloccini who are all sidelined through injury although the latter of that list should be available for the trip to West Brom next weekend.

Sunderland:

Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole are both unavailable for the remainder of the season. Titus Bramble, Daid Vaughan and Connor Wickham are doubts while Danny Graham and Carlos Cuellar will undergo fitness tests ahead of the match to determine their availability. Craig Gardner will miss the game through suspension.

Previously…

The reverse fixture earlier on in the season ended 1-1 with a late own goal from Demba Ba cancelling out Yohan Cabaye’s early opener.

This will be the 148th derby between the two sides. Currently United hold the advantage with 54 wins compared to 44 for Sunderland. The other 47 matches have, as you can guess, ended in a draw.

Stats and facts:

A fifth home league win in a row would be the first time we’ve managed such a feat since the 2003/2004 season.

Sunderland have lost their last four away games and have conceded at least two goals in each of the last six away matches.

Newcastle have kept just five cleans sheets in the Premier league this season. Four of those have come at St James’ Park.

Final thought:

Strap yourself in is my message. It’s going to be another one of those stomach-turning, gut-wrenching derby days. The form book says home win, but the problem with these games is that form goes out of the window and can’t be relied upon.

In an ideal world we’d sweep the Mackems away playing some nice football, but again nice football doesn’t tend to feature too much in derby games as blood and guts come to the fore.

We can do it, undoubtedly, but the pressure is on us to claim the bragging rights in front of our own fans. It’s important the players savour the occasion and relish it, but it’s also vitally important that none of them get carried away with it all and keep a level head, which is something I won’t be able to do!

Howay the lads!

Date: Sunday, 14th April, 2013

Time: 12:00 – Live on Sky

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.

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132 thoughts on “Newcastle v Sunderland – Derby Day match preview”

  3. keep faith kimi…u can trust hba and the team for big victory and will be proud like a magpie 😉

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  4. Djebs what is your problem 😕 do you think your the only one that is entitiled to express an opinion, so I take it if im right you will be on here to apologise for being ignorant, abusive and being wrong

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  9. i know ive been in the sun for a couple of weeks but can anyone tell me the point of the comment @72,how theses under fives get on the blog beats me

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  14. Batts I was surprised @ Ice having a go at me it’s bad enough some french kid with an attitude problem but Ice I thought better of him

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  15. If Pardew wants to win this game he must start with his best team, and that includes HBA.
    Tell HBA to give his all for 60 mins then reassess.
    If Haidara starts then there is no need for Jonas to start as he needs little protection. HBA and Marveaux must start on the flanks!
    However I bet they don’t!!!!

    My prediction 1 – 1

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  17. Ok Ice I thought you had it wrong as for 77 I think he has a serious problem with me now aswell as Pards, to go along with his crush on Benny

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  18. TGS how da hell is it going Lad, would you not think it would be better to bring Benny on later to rip them a new one when they start tiring ? I wouldn’t have a prob with him starting I just thought it might be better late on

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  19. Dave,
    If Pardew wants to win,he needs to play his best available 11 IMO.

    Krul
    Debuchy
    Haidara
    Saylor
    Mbiwa
    Sissoko
    Cabaye
    Marveaux
    Gouffran
    Cisse

    4 – 4 -2
    Tiote/Jonas and Strolla on the bench.

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  24. Dave…Aye, agree Jonas has been much better the last few games, that said it’s a good position to be in when you can afford to leave in form, good players on the bench :mrgreen:

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  26. Dave,
    I just think that Jonas offiers nowt, his workrate is second to none, but there is seldom an end product.
    If we are to push on, then he needs to be replaced.
    Play Gouffran up alongside Cisse and see what happens with both our wing wizards playing.

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  28. Don’t think benny will start and think that will be the right choice. Marv should start though. Would play Jonas at CM for his work ethic which has returned-Cabaye looked absolutely knackered against benfica, whether he is carrying an injury or just low on fitness I’m not sure, but he will need someone with an engine. Playing Tiote would be a risk…but no question that if he can return to form he will be useful for this match.

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  29. I love how Turner has become some sort of goalscoring CB and a half decent player in general now that he has left the scum and joined Norwich. They could use his goals now 😆

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  30. Surprised by Moyes’ comments on MOTD, no hesitation saying he needs a centre forward, certainly not a confidence booster for Jelavic 😆

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  31. Already getting in the mood for this one. I’m hoping for a 3-1 win. Cisse with 2 and Ben Arfa off the bench with a third. Howay the lads! 😀

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  34. Click on ‘like’ for this formation. If we get 55,000 ‘likes’ Alan Pardew has said he’ll use this formation, tell them to attack and we’ll batter the mackems 6-0.

    ————————–Krul———————–
    —————————————————–
    Debuchy——Taylor——Yanga Mbiwa——Haidara
    ——————————————————-
    ————Sissoko———-Cabaye——————-
    ——————————————————–
    —-Ben Arfa——–Marveaux———Gouffran——
    ——————————————————-
    ———————Cisse——————————

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  36. Definitely a like from me Pootle.We would tear them a new one with those players and formation. Thumbs up. 😆

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  39. G2@108, indeed an initial beatle twang.

    However, I dig cochneal. I own the only remaining cochneal mine in Durham in fact.

    So stick that up your fucking ****. 😯

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  45. Steady on Rodz lad. Save the aggro for the unwashed. You’ll have to explain what cochneal is to us olduns?

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  48. A cochineal is an insect. Several centuries ago carmine dye, which is a shade of red, was extractedfrom them.

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  49. Rods isn’t full of aggro.
    He just has alcohol induced Tourettes.
    There should be a support group or something.

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  50. Ah yes I saw that reference in Google as well Pootle. Be careful Rodz. When you say his name 3 times he will appear.

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  51. Aye we’re here AMF. Rodz is teaching me some new words and Pootle is explaining them. 😆

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  52. Lol. I knew that because my mam told me when I was in primary school. She’s really good at painting and other arts and crafts. I’m good too but lacked motivation to keep it up.
    So there you go.

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  53. I know about cochneal because my mam force fed me it as a child through my dad’s beer tits, in some sort of crazy sex game.

    …it was ok though cos it was the 70s.

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  54. Its also how I know that the ochres are derived from clay with certain minerals in and Tyrian Purple came from snails.

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  56. Interesting Pootle. Maybe you should go back to it mate. It’s never too late. All I loved at that age was kicking a ball around. I still dream about playing, sometimes even with me Dad who’s 83 now. Good memories.

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