A season that threatened to fizzle out in early December is now full of hope and excitement, with Sunday’s 3-1 win over Bromley making it EIGHT wins on the spin for Newcastle United.
It’s the first time since 1976 that Newcastle, while in the first division, have been still alive in the League Cup and FA Cup heading into February, where semi-final and fourth round ties await against Arsenal and Birmingham.
As for the league, we return to Premier League action this week with back-to-back home games against Wolves and Bournemouth, handing us a big chance to keep the run going and consolidate our hopes of a top-four finish.
With 23 goals and just three conceded in our last eight, this is an opportunity we can’t waste to build even more momentum, especially when a trip to Southampton follows this double-header at St James’ Park.
Should Alexander Isak score again, he’ll land a club record by scoring in eight consecutive Premier League games just a week after picking up the Player of the Month award for December.
Talking of records, beat Wolves and Eddie Howe would match the nine-straight wins achieved Kevin Keegan (1993/94) and Rafa Benitez (2016/17), while 10-straight victories has NEVER been done by any Toon boss.
Howe’s pre-match comments
On keeping the run going – “I think for me, I know it’s boring but, it is game by game and it is trying to keep our focus on what we can affect which is.
On Barnes’ injury – “He’s had a scan. It’s not too bad but he will miss the upcoming games. We’re looking at around a month.”
On Isak, Botman, Willock and Murphy – “We’ll have a look at them again today. “They were left out with genuine reasons, all different things, but nothing major we hope. So minor problems that we needed to settle down. Fingers crossed they’ll be there or thereabouts.”
Team news
Alexander Isak (tight hamstring) is due to train for the first time since Arsenal on Tuesday and should be OK, with Howe hopeful Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman and Joe Willock will return.
Harvey Barnes (thigh) is facing a month out, while Nick Pope (knee), Callum Wilson (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) look set to miss out again. Emil Krafth could return to the squad.
For Wolves, top scorer and star man Matheus Cunha is back from a ban, while Nelson Semedo and Craig Dawson may be fit to return. Toti Gomes remains out and Mario Lemina has recovered from illness.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Most of the team picks itself after this incredible run of eight-straight wins and I think Isak and Murphy will be fit enough to start after rests on Sunday.
One tough position to predict, however, is at centre-back, with Howe spoilt with three great options to fill two spots. Schar is back from a ban, Burn is in brilliant form and Botman is fit again and should be ready to play after he was given the afternoon off against Bromley.
With Botman feeling his groin slightly at Arsenal, Burn virtually undroppable (Howe’s own words in a recent press conference) and Schar’s ability to play out from the back key against teams we should be beating at home, I think it’ll be the Swiss alongside our big man from Blyth.
Botman has been superb and he’ll be back in the side before long, but you could argue that the centre-back spots are Schar’s and Burn’s to lose, for now at least.
Match prediction
The first of two winnable home games at St James’ Park and I think we’ll keep the great run going here.
Wolves should’ve scored a couple in last Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and they’ll have star man Matheus Cunha back from a ban. But, they are also without a few first-choice defenders, so I can’t see them stopping Alexander Isak and fancy us to win the midfield battle.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Wolves
Howay the lads!
Results absolutely went our way last night.
A win tonight moves us right into the mix. Sadly it would still see Liverpool 9 points ahead of us – and I think that’s going to be a difficult gap to close.
That’s said, we were around 12th at the beginning of December and a win tonight moves us into 4th.
I don’t think it’s a straight forward win tonight. I think the new manager bounce for Wolves could be a thing tonight.
I think we win, but 3-1 might be optimistic.
I actually think the next 2 fixtures are quite tricky.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yep, agree, it would be such a Newcastle thing to lose to Wolves after seeing off so called tougher opposition .
kimtoon(Quote)
Indeed Kim, we always seem to implode just when we have to opportunity to create a record or move up significantly in the league. We absolutely must stay focussed as Wolves will be very tricky, especially since they have Cunha back too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
For the first time in the clubs history the toon have won away at manu, spurs and arsenal in the same season🖤🤍
To have that mean anything requires nufc to push on from the opportunity they’ve given themselves. More draws elsewhere would be very well come tonight.
EH spot on that nufc need to keep focus on the next game. As fans we can start to get a bit giddy about what ifs… 12 from the next four must be the target
Wolves are decent and like to counter. Not sure what was going on with O’Neill but pereira seems smart so expecting a tough game this evening and a tougher No one at the weekend
Only question on selection appears to be two from schar/ burn /botman assuming isak is fit to start
Jonesy(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
GetinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnIsak, brilliantly done
kimtoon(Quote)
More of that second half please
kimtoon(Quote)
Enjoyable game.
Good first half after wolves shaded the first 10 minutes and have been aggressive all game. Nufc Worth the lead and just need to cut out occasional sloppy play.
Jonesy(Quote)
Nervy first half. Several missed chances but a lucky goal. This is along way from over though. Need to be much tighter with our passing and better in possession
Gilly Toon(Quote)
lol, Isak, scores when he wants.
kimtoon(Quote)
Just dreamy from Bruno and ice cool from alex
Joneay(Quote)
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
top 4
kimtoon(Quote)
onside
kimtoon(Quote)
Not Wolves day, handball.
kimtoon(Quote)
I do like Dubravka
kimtoon(Quote)
Good job lads, could of been a banana skin that game.
kimtoon(Quote)
Get in. Good result and into top 4 not to be ignored but that was a weird last 15-20 minutes where they looked very disorganised after a pretty controlled performance otherwise
HTL
Jonesy(Quote)
Great result. They still manage to make me nervous the way they played at the end there. Top 4!!!!!!
Gilly Toon(Quote)