Premier League football returns to St James’ Park this Sunday, seeing Eddie Howe’s Mags take on a Fulham side who’ve won all five of their games since returning from the World Cup break.
Last weekend’s FA Cup exit was a reality check for some, but may be seen by others as a blessing in disguise. It was a harsh reminder that areas of our squad remain worryingly weak and was followed by our big guns bouncing back in style on Tuesday night, as a 2-0 win over Leicester sent us into the Carabao Cup semi-finals; where a two-legged tie with Southampton awaits.
Dan Burn and Joelinton inspired us to victory with two second half strikes, although the latter could now miss out this weekend after a drink driving charge has left him in hot water. I expected better from the big man and hope he learns his lesson.
As for Fulham, they too are in superb form. Believe it or not, they’d move to just ONE point of Newcastle should they pull off a surprise win at St James’ Park on Sunday, highlighting what a superb job Marco Silva is doing.
The good news, however, is that they took on Chelsea on Thursday night, leaving them with short turnaround, a few tired legs and without their suspended left-back for the trip up to Tyneside. Even if they arrived fully fit, refreshed and raring to go following the return of ex-Mag Aleksandar Mitrovic, you’d still have to fancy us.
After all, we’ve not conceded at home since Ivan Toney’s scored from the spot in a 5-1 win over Brentford back in early October and would’ve made it five league wins on the spin at SJP had we been able to finish our dinner against Leeds.
With that frustrating afternoon in mind – not forgetting missed chances against Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester – I sincerely hope we’ve rediscovered our shooting boots.
Team news
It remains to be seen if Howe will select Joelinton for reasons previosuly stated, especially when Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak are fit-again options in attack.
Once again, Jonjo Shelvey (calf), Matt Targett (heel) and Emil Krafth (ACL) will miss out.
For the Cottagers, Aleksandar Mitrovic is available after serving a one-match ban, but left-back Antonee Robinson is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow of the season in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
I think Joelinton’s punishment will be a place on the bench. After all, I think Howe would send out the wrong message by starting a player who was arrested by police for drink driving little over 72 hours before kick-off.
In his place, I think we’ll see Allan Saint-Maximin. He should be ready to start now, as he’s been able to train all week after missing last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat through illness.
Not only that, we got a LOT of joy down the flanks at Craven Cottage earlier in the season, with Jacob Murphy having a field day down the left; even prior to their early red card that day.
I can’t see any other changes elsewhere. Callum Wilson has been recovering from a nasty bug and didn’t look himself on Tuesday, but Howe’s pre-match comments on Friday told me he’s not ready to start a Premier League game just yet.
Prediction
Fulham are no mugs this season. They’re yet to concede in their three away games (in all competitions) since the World Cup break, have won four league games on the spin and arrive full of belief.
However, they’ll be coming up against a highly-motivated, high-pressing and extremely organised Newcastle side who will be out to make up for dropped points against Leeds in our last league fixture at home.
Almiron to terrorise Fulham’s left-side, Joe Willock to score and Newcastle to get back to winning ways in the Premier League!
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Fulham
Well it’s been a day of big results and surprises hasn’t it?!?!!!
Win and we are 1 point behind Man City in 2nd
Lose and Fulham will only be 1 point behind us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
West Ham and Everton fans going into meltdown. i wouldn’t play Anthony Gordon again this season purely based on the fact that he gave a way the foul that led to JWPs goal. When Chelsea put in an offer for him I said he was the most overrated player in the PL. There were even rumours we were sniffing around. Please nooooooooo.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
West Brom win again and into a playoff spot. Is there a common denominator between the turnaround there and at NUFC. When are the pundits going to admit they were wrong. In fact, when will they say a word. This is proof positive that they know nowt.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not really sure why we are not looking at the 2 Argentine midfielders who won the WC – Mac Allister and De Paul.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Getting cozy up there and so a big game tomorrow. Love it
Biggest decision for Howe i guess is what to do about joelinton’s f’ckwittery although with Wilson looking unfit there may be a decision there too
Either way, an aggressive start to set up a win please
Off nufc, No surprises to see eth getting manu rolling and it’s some turnaround with Rashford
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Not sure about Wilson. It looked to me that he was really reluctant to sprint. His hamstrings are clearly an ongoing problem and one which a previously pacey forward cannot do without.
georgio(Quote)
I am little bit worried about this one. Man U have put a bit of pressure on us with a lot of help from a stupid offside rule that I didnt even know about until yesterday. I don’t it will be the blowout it was a Craven Cottage, so 2-1.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My concern is that we are not converting our chances like we used to
PremAndUp(Quote)
Mine too Prem , it’s worrying. Fulham are playing well, this won’t be easy at all.
kimtoon(Quote)
The one season we get off to a flyer and it gets interrupted by the WC, which should never of been there or in the winter either.
kimtoon(Quote)
Anyone seen this !
https://twitter.com/StokeyyG2/status/1614360515278413826?s=20
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: you know my opinion on Anthony Gordon. I was saying he was shyte even before we were linked with him.
Are you on twitter? I refuse to go on there because of all of the toxicity. I see it when people post the tweets on BLogs etc and even people like Wraith are blocking people. It is not just football though. There is so much bile about politics over here that I would rather not read what the fringe groups say.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Quite worried about this one. They have 5 wins in a row and closing up on us. Some good players in there too, not just Mitro.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I want Arsenal to win the NL Derby so it keeps Spurs away from us. Spurs have a pattern of playing **** in the 1st half and coming alive in the 2nd. 2 goals from the Gunners in the 1st half to kill the game off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh, and I watched the full liverpool match this morning and they were awful. Are they were a one man team? Can the not play without Van Dijk. When the TRex Mackem took him out for the season they didnt do too well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
JESUS Tripps that was a bit short to pope
kimtoon(Quote)
oh Calum, that should of been a goal that was poor
kimtoon(Quote)
Very frustrating first half. Again we are missing opportunities. I think Bruno will be off at half time.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Nicely balanced. Fulham very much in this and no surprise there
Don’t expect to see guimaraes 2nd half so some reshuffle likely.
Have Newcastle hit our own player from any direct corner ?
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Chelsea sign Mudryk for £88.5 million. 😳😳😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Fulham been very good defensively to be fair but we need to get back to scoring like before the world cup .
kimtoon(Quote)
I suggested him before the WC when he was only £15m
PremAndUp(Quote)
Tripps is off kilter today
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Hope it’s not ankle ligaments for Bruno and just a case of ice and rest. He was crying when he went in at the break like he knew it was bad.:-[
kimtoon(Quote)
Yep, a few are AGAIN
kimtoon(Quote)
Schar off the effin bar
kimtoon(Quote)
they are gonna get a pen
kimtoon(Quote)
knew it
kimtoon(Quote)
NEVER a penalty. That was a foul on trips 😡😡😡😡😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Karma
Gilly Toon(Quote)
wow
kimtoon(Quote)
How have we not scored
kimtoon(Quote)
Are you allowed to wait 5 mins to make a VAR decision?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Only if it’s a clear and obvious five minutes
PremAndUp(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Isak
kimtoon(Quote)
it was a nice bit of team play for that goal
kimtoon(Quote)
well done lads
Isak has some nice touches on him mind
kimtoon(Quote)
Deserved that and some really smart play from Wilson for the goal
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Well, not pretty but a good, battling win. Never a penalty so karma prevailed… good goal in the end.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
There’s a time not too long ago, that we’d have lost that game. We battled to the end and got a result. Not pretty at all, but deserved.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That was more nervy than it should have been. We had 20 shots, 6 on target. Fulham had 4 shots, zero on target.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
must admit I was kind of hoping for a draw in the NL derby, but I’d forgotten about Lloris
PremAndUp(Quote)
You might get one Prem. Arsenal need 2 goals 1st half because Spurs always pick up in the 2nd.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Lloris should got that one as well.
Spurs fans are mental. They will be acting like it is the end of football as we know it if they lose this.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m a little uncertain as a win for the **** means we are not going to win the league, not that I think we will and has the benefit of putting spurs out of the top 4 equation.
But a draw keeps both open
PremAndUp(Quote)
Eric – I’m not sure what else Gallagher can say in that position.
If he says he’s desperate to get out and doesn’t leave this window – it leaves him in a pretty difficult situation.
I still think if he leaves it will more likely be for Palace than us though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’ve looked at our remaining fixtures and without wanting to sound arrogant about it, the only fixtures left that look difficult to me are the Brighton, Man City and Arsenal games.
That’s not to say I expect to lose them and win all the rest, they are just the ones I thing pose the biggest challenge.
Sharpy17(Quote)