Another week, another positive set of results for Newcastle United and another blog entry hastily constructed on a Friday night after several bottles of beer.
Still it is a pleasure to write about Newcastle at the moment as their unbeaten run in both the Premier League and the Carling Cup continues. The Toon's latest victory was not without struggle however, as Steve McLaren's Nottingham Forest equalised 3 times before Newcastle finally sealed a 4-3 victory in the last minute of extra-time through captain Fabricio Coloccini's header.
The win booked Newcastle's place in the 4th Round of the Carling Cup, an extremely positive result after Alan Pardew made nine changes to a side that drew 1-1 at Aston Villa just three days earlier. Among the changes was a return for Hatem Ben Arfa after a year away from competitive action following the broken leg he suffered last season at Manchester City.
The former Marseille and Lyon man played 70 minutes before being substituted. Ben Arfa had a hand in Newcastle's first goal as he delivered a delightful ball out wide for Sylvain Marveaux who crossed for Peter Lovenkrands to head home. It was an impressive display be ex-Rennes man Marveaux who won the penalty for Newcastle's second goal which was converted comfortably by Lovenkrands. That goal put Newcastle back in front after Robbie Findley had levelled for Forest.
Matt Derbyshire levelled matters again late on to send the contest to extra time. It was an unlikely source who provided Newcastle's third goal as Danny Simpson's cross deceived Forest keeper Lee Camp to nestle in the top corner, Pardew's men thought that was to be the winner before Marcus Tudgay drew Forest level for the third time before Coloccini's header settled the game right at the death.
A number of young guns featured for Newcastle on Tuesday night, including Lens academy product Mehdi Abeid and Irish full-back Shane Ferguson.
It will be a more experienced side that takes the field on Saturday though, as Pardew's charges look to maintain their good start to the season with a home win against Steve Kean's Blackburn Rovers. The Lancashire club have become something of a bogey team for the Geordies in recent years, Rovers have won on their last five visits to St. James Park.
Newcastle will be confident of ending that run after their strong start, but Blackburn will also be revitalised following a 4-3 home win over Arsenal. A big factor in Rovers' victory over Arsene Wenger's lacklustre Gunners was the form of Yakubu, who netted two goals in the win.
The Toon defence has been excellent in almost every game they have played so far in the league and they will need to be on their guard again to prevent the Nigeria hitman from finding the net once more. The key to stopping Yakubu will be cutting off his supply line, the Nigerian is far from the most mobile of striker's and will rely heavily on the service of Junior Hoilett, Blackburn's star midfielder who is arguably Rovers' best player.
If Newcastle can nullify the threat of threat Hoilett then it could be a profitable afternoon for the Newcastle attack who will be boosted by the improved form of Marveaux and the return of Ben Arfa. That extra dose of creativity may prove to be useful as the Toon will have to break down Blackburn's experienced centre-back pairing of Christopher Samba and Scott Dan if they to continue their impressive unbeaten run.
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