Preston North End v Newcastle United: Pre-match ramblings

Andy The Magpie

This weekend, Rafa’s Magpies make the three hour journey down the M6 to take on a Preston North End side no doubt wounded from their 6-0 Cupset midweek. In what was firmly expected to be a much tighter game, a vibrant Newcastle side put 10 man Preston to the sword to book an EFL last 8 match-up against Hull City.

And now, with a rematch looming, I feel the dynamics of Saturday’s contest will be completely different to that of Tuesday’s win for four reasons:

  1. Home advantage for Preston (the obvious one)
  2. The size of Deepdale’s pitch
  3. Complacency
  4. Selection headaches abound

It hasn’t been long since the last time NUFC had a cup/league double header – against Wolves last month in fact, where both sides claimed one scalp a-piece. We were a mess, if truth be told in our first game against Wolves but dramatically improved in the midweek outing to progress further in the EFL Cup.

This time around we were stunning in our first match against Preston North End, so will our second match-up be ill fated in a reversal of what happened against Wolves?

The main conduit that will help Rafa’s men pick up all three points on Saturday will without doubt be the ability to switch up our style of play to suit a smaller pitch such as Deepdale’s. Looking back to midweek, playing a 10 men side on a pitch the size of SJP is small fry for the likes of Jonjo Shelvey who can zip the ball around with ease. So the question is, what do we do when faced with cramped conditions against a side desperate for redemption? The answer – fight fire, with fire.

With many of Newcastle’s slow starters of the season i.e. Perez and Diame now starting to find their feet also, Rafa certainly has some tough decisions to make this evening. But I feel this match is made for our more guttural midfield and attacking fighters. Whilst not expected to start, target man Daryl Murphy may be a savvy inclusion in Benitez’s squad should he wish to bring him on to see the game out with 20 minutes to go.

As good as Clark has been this season, I’d favour the slightly more physical Mbemba to line up along side our skipper. Elsewhere I feel the front two picks themselves with both Mitrovic and Gayle being partial to plenty of goals recently.

Preferred line-up (4-4-2)

GK: Darlow

CB: Mbemba

CB: Lascelles

LB: Dummet

RB: Yedlin

CM: Shelvey

CM: Diame

RM: Ritchie

LM: Atsu

CF: Mitrovic

CF: Gayle

 

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259 thoughts on “Preston North End v Newcastle United: Pre-match ramblings”

  1. Munich Mag:
    Despite the midweek cuffing Preston have beaten Champs top teams and are no diddy’s. A draw today and we improve our position at the top.

    How does having a 3 point lead at the top cut to one point improve our position ?

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  9. We soaked it up and nicked one, can’t argue with that and they got to come at us more now so we could yet nick another maybe.

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  22. Listening to radio newcastle. They just said that Sunderland fans can have their say on the phone in after this game. I wouldn’t mind listening to that. I wonder if the regular internet feed is still blocked for that programme?

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  37. GeordieTwo:
    Strange end to the game by the sound of it. Good to get out of there with the points.

    Good the players got out in one piece by sounds of it, PNE fans throwing all sorts onto pitch apparently

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  38. Brighton really showing their quality as well. Norwich and Huddersfield have definitely hit a tough patch.

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  40. Lucky win by the sound of it.

    Things could kick off tonight in Preston with 6000 mags in town…especially with the knackers hoying things at our players !

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  41. cracking result! withstood lots of pressure

    Mitro showing he can be trusted when needed.

    Townsend dropped 😆

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  42. Well all is well that ends well. We are now 6 and 7 points clear of 3rd and 4th spots. Magic. Walking it.

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  43. Our goal difference is 6 better than Brighton, which is good – but 21 better than Huddersfield and 18 better than Norwich. Crazy! Hats off to Hughton by the way. I hope he takes 2nd. They are looking good for it that’s for sure.

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  46. I wonder what the tactics will be – keep it tight for 20 minutes then try to hit them on the break? Get a goal from a set piece. Why have he dropped Townsend? Tactical or form?

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  48. So another lucky win ?

    After bristol city, rotherham etc we come away from an away game with three points.

    Or possibly .. and here’s a radical thought .. benitez knows just what he’s doing ?

    The only small change this time around was that we actually conceded a goal

    Top and 3 clear.. that’ll do

    #ThisIsWhatWeDo

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  62. Just watched the goals, what the flock was the defender on the front post doing ? Who was it ? **** goal to concede !
    2 great finishes from Mitro !

    Howay the lads !!

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  66. I am sort of shocked by the 2 Liverpool goals from corners. Dann and Tomkins are usually good in the air. Pardew training sessions must be kicking in. He was always in charge of that part of the game at NUFC.

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  67. Watching some of the highlights. Some Aluko absolutely ran riot for Fulham today. Looked class with bags of skill and assisted 3 goals.

    The Norwich defense and keeper look shot. Twice they tried to be clever and ended up with egg on their face. Knockheart showed why he is highly sought after.

    Armstrong was kept fairly quiet for Barnsley and Toon were under the cosh as expected today but came out on top. Happy days.

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  69. It really is working out pretty well. Top of the league. A bit of karma for the mackems and that banner. The players that jumped ship facing hard slogs to get in their teams and their replacements doing well. Even Andros, who I didn’t want to leave but it could be that he gets Pardewed – he could ask Ben Arfa and Gouffy about that. A Liverpool win would make it a good weekend.

    Oh, and a couple of wins for the Chicago Cubs would be OK as well.

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  70. Villa cost 60 million. Palace sold 35% for 100 mil but are in London and have a decent squad that will probably stay in the PL unless Pards works his magic. Sunderland with a **** squad, 200 million in debt and certs for relegation MUST have a negative value. I think Ellis Short would have to take a loss to sell them. Things can change a lot from May to October.

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  71. Oh and 70 million of Mackem debt is to an American Insurance Company so Short cannot just write that off in a sale. They really are f@cked.

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  72. Eric Sykes:
    Hey Sham: you said we would hit our stride in October and we ended up with a 100% record.

    That’s because I have a seriously good crystal ball mate. I also called a 2-1 Toon win today. Only reason I have not used the crystal ball to win the Euro Lottery is because it would be an abuse of my power…..

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  73. We’re effectively 7 points clear of 3rd place with the GD and both Huddersfield and Norwich are on bad runs. Hopefully we can start to really put some daylight between us and the rest.

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  74. Since they both lost, Palace still have a worse record than Sunderland in 2016. 11 points from 10 games may not be relegation form but it is not that far off.

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