Early Derby Day Preview: Newcastle look to do double over resurgent rivals

Yes it is that time of year once again, the Tyne-Wear derby is upon us and Geordies and Mackems everywhere have begun trading verbal punches in the build up to the game.

Newcastle emerged triumphant back in August when Ryan Taylor's free-kick secured a 1-0 win for the Magpies and his place in club folklore.

Both sides come into the game on the back of disappointing results, Newcastle surrendered a 2-0 advantage to slip to a 2-2 draw with Wolves at St James' Park. While Martin O'Neill's Sunderland suffered a humbling defeat at The Hawthorns, as they were beaten 4-0 by West Bromwich Albion.

The form book will be tossed out of the window on Sunday however, as emotion and will to win take precedence over skill and ability. This is not to say that tactics, organisation and talent count for nothing in this type of game, but the two sides are extremely well matched in these areas, and therefore mental toughness will have an added importance.

Newcastle should again be able to call on a near fully fit squad assuming Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote return from international duty injury free. Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba both have knocks, but both should be fit to spearhead the Magpies' attack.

The Senegalese pair will pose a huge problem for a Sunderland defence that is set to once again be without veterans Titus Bramble and Wes Brown.

The Mackems were decimated by a West Brom side that has struggled at home this season. However, O'Neill's side do possess a number of creative outlets going forward. Stephane Sessegnon; Sebastian Larsson and Irish youngster James McClean have all impressed this year, and the Newcastle rearguard will have to be vigilant if they are to repel a Sunderland attack that has put the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to the sword.

The Tyneside faithful will surely be confident given Newcastle's recent successes over their oldest rivals. A capacity crowd is expected at St James' Park to cheer on Pardew's charges, as they look to write the story of another Geordie triumph into the history of this long and storied fixture.

Verdict

Sunderland have certainly improved as a side, and with Frazier Campbell seemingly back in a form they are a team capable of scoring many goals. However, I expect Newcastle, with the backing of a raucous home crowd, to edge what will be a thrilling encounter.

Prediction: Newcastle 4-2 Sunderland


This will be my last post for a while, as I head to Paris for a much needed break on Thursday. I shall be keenly watching Sunday's game from a Parisian bar, before moving on to the Parc Des Princes to watch Paris Saint-Germain take on AC Ajaccio. Au revior, allez le Toon!

Wolves fightback stuns below par Newcastle

Newcastle's Champions League ambitions suffered a setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James' Park.

The Magpies were in cruise control after the first twenty minutes as strikes from Papiss Cisse and Jonas Gutierrez gave Alan Pardew's side a seemingly comfortable 2-0 advantage. However, the home side took their foot off the accelerator and allowed Wolves a route back into the contest, which they duly took through efforts from Matt Jarvis and Kevin Doyle.

Newcastle fans have become accustomed to seeing their team capitulate over the years, but it is an event that hasn't happened often this season, and Wolves' comeback was made even more surprising given the circumstances surrounding the contest. Pardew was able to call upon an almost full strength side, while Terry Connor's visitors had to cope without striker Stephen Fletcher, who was only fit enough for a place on the bench after failing to shake off an illness.

Still this did not deter Wolves, who demonstrated the same kind of resiliency that Newcastle have become famous for during this campaign. The Magpies dominated much of the early stages and were rewarded when Cisse latched onto a partially blocked Cheick Tiote effort to slot home inside six minutes. Newcastle's lead was doubled just over ten minutes later when Gutierrez lashed a magnificent right-footed shot past Wolves Keeper Wayne Hennessey from 25 yards out.

Newcastle appeared comfortable, but Wolves soon managed to gain a foothold in the contest as the Magpies seemed to slip into a false sense of security. The warning sings were there for all to see when Doyle rose highest to head wide of the post just before the interval.

Still Pardew's side continued to struggle after the break as they surrendered possession far too easily, with returning midfielders Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote a yard of the pace throughout the contest.

The Magpies' carelessness on the ball proved to be their downfall as Wolves took advantage when Jarvis' deflected strike looped in over Tim Krul. The goal helped the visitors to grow in confidence and they found their leveller on 66 minutes when Doyle poked home after Jarvis' well placed free-kick caused chaos in the Newcastle penalty area.

A draw now within their grasp, Wolves did the expected and proceeded to sit back and protect the point that they had fought so valiantly for. Newcastle pressed, but were unable to break down a stubborn Wanderers' rearguard, and as a result the home side were reduced to a couple of unsuccessful long range efforts from Hatem Ben Arfa.

That was to be all she wrote for Newcastle, who were left to settle for a disappointing point which leaves them three points shy of Chelsea and Arsenal. The London pair now head the chase for the final Champions League place, but Newcastle remain in the hunt and will look to step up their chase by completing a league double over rivals Sunderland when the two sides meet at St James' Park on Sunday.

Match Preview: Newcastle looking to inflict more woe on wounded Wolves

It has felt like a long time since Newcastle last played a game, but on Saturday the Magpies will look to reignite their Champions League charge as they face a beleaguered Wolverhampton Wanderers side.

Both sides come into the contest on the back of big defeats, Newcastle were thumped 5-0 at White Hart Lane by Tottenham Hotspur, while Wolves' 5-1 home defeat to local rivals West Bromwich Albion signalled the end of the road for Manager Mick McCarthy.

The Black Country club will head to St James' Park with former assistant Terry Connor in charge. Connor has been promoted to the top job after Wolves' quest to find a new boss quickly turned into a fruitless farce. Meanwhile Alan Pardew's side is likely to be at full strength, with both Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye set to be restored to the starting lineup in the centre of midfield.

The strike partnership of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse should also strike a considerable amount of  fear into the Wolves' defence. Ba is edging ever close to the 20 goal mark, while Cisse made a spectacular start to life of Tyneside when he struck a vicious volley into the net to seal victory for Newcastle on his debut against Aston Villa three weeks ago.

Newcastle were 2-1 winners at Molineux back in October, when goals from Ba and Jonas Gutierrez proved to be enough to take all three points. There was controversy however, as Kevin Doyle's potential late equaliser was ruled out by the linesman, who adjudged that the ball had already crossed the byline before Adam Hammill delivered it to the head of the Irish international.

Wolves do possess a good amount of talented players such as Doyle; Hammill; Matt Jarvis and Nenad Milijas, and they will certainly present Newcastle's backline with a significant threat. Still - although you can never afford to be complacent in football - the Geordie faithful will be hopeful of a comfortable win given the circumstances surrounding the game.

It is now up to a strong and rested Newcastle side to deliver, and banish the nightmare of their White Hart Lane horror show from memory.

Newcastle set to sign another French young gun?

Amalfitano is reportedly set to swap Reims for Newcastle

Newcastle fans awoke Thursday morning to surprising news that had somewhat of a familiar feel. The club is reportedly on the verge of a new signing, that's the surprise. The familiar part? The player is French.

Indeed, French newspaper L'Equipe is reporting that Newcastle are to agree on a three-year deal for Stade De Reims Romain Amalfitano. The attacking midfielder, who is the younger brother of Marseille star Morgan Amalfitano, is out of contract at the end of the season, and the Magpies appear to have swooped in to take advantage.

At just 22 years of age, Amalfitano fits the Newcastle blueprint, and although signing a player from French Ligue 2 certainly represents a gamble, it is one that could have a massive pay-off with no outlay set to be spent on the player. Quick and with an eye for goal, the Nice-born player could certainly inject some extra pace into the Newcastle midfield.

The news has not been officially confirmed by the club as yet, and it is unlikely that they will do so until the end of the season, as Newcastle are a club that likes to keep their transfer business under wraps. However, if the signing is confirmed, then credit should go to the club's scouting network - led by Graham Carr - for unearthing a player that will have escaped the attentions of many due to his current club's league status.

No matter what the outcome of Newcastle's season, the summer transfer window is set to be an interesting one on Tyneside, and it looks as if Pardew and his scouts have opened for business early.

Newcastle just one of many successful underdogs

Newcastle United have enjoyed a remarkable campaign, tipped by some for relegation at the start of the season, the Magpies sit 6th in the Premier League table.

However, their renaissance has not been the only surprise success story in the realm of European league football this year.

Indeed, across the various continental leagues, there are a number of overachieving underdogs that are causing a stir in their respective countries. In France, Montpellier, who finished 14th last season, are in direct competition with big spending Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title. While in Germany Borussia Monchengladbach are in a four way fight for the Bundesliga title after narrowly avoiding relegation last time out.

Levante have surprised everyone in Spain by breaking into the top four with a team full of ageing veterans, and Heerenveen, who Newcastle once defeated in the Uefa Cup in 2005, are in thick of a crowded Dutch title picture.

There are exceptions of course, the Italian Serie A has been dominated by a resurgent Juventus and Champions AC Milan, Udinese, spearheaded by the unrelenting talent of Antonio Di Natale, have also impressed. Scotland and Portugal continue to be closed shops, but overall it has been a season of surprises throughout Europe.

The 2011/2012 season is racing towards its conclusion, and there are only thirteen games left of this Premier League. Newcastle will be hoping to hit form at the right time and give themselves the opportunity to meet some of the continent's other unlikely front runners in European competition next season.

Tottenham defeat highlights Tiote and Cabaye value

Newcastle United's bad record in London continued, as they were hammered 5-0 by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The game was over as a contest by Half Time after Benoit Assou-Ekotto's 4th minute strike was quickly followed by two goals from Louis Saha and one from Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar. The impressive Emmanuel Adebayor finished off the rout in the second half with a fine volley.

It was a nightmare evening for Alan Pardew's side, and one that occurred because of Spurs' complete dominance in midfield. Newcastle's makeshift central midfield pairing of Danny Guthrie and James Perch failed to contain Tottenham, who were imperious as an attacking force. Scott Parker and Luka Modric controlled the pace and flow of the game, while Gareth Bale ran riot down the left flank. 

The Magpies can take solace in the fact that first choice central midfielders Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye are set to return to action. Tiote finished as a runner up in the African Cup of Nations, as the Ivory Coast were beaten on penalties by surprise package Zambia. Former Lille man Cabaye returns from suspension after serving a three game ban for allegedly striking Brighton's Adam El-Abd.

Newcastle's poor performance on Saturday highlighted just how important Tiote and Cabaye are to their success. Perch and Guthrie have produced good displays in recent weeks, but against superior counterparts they were completely overrun. The contrast to the last time the two sides met could not have been more stark. It finished 2-2 back in October at St James' Park, when Newcastle's first choice midfield pair were able to contribute in attack, while somewhat restricting Spurs in what was a spirited end to end contest.

Pardew's charges can now enjoy a two week break as focus shifts to the FA Cup this weekend. Newcastle's elimination from the competition at the hands of Brighton was a disappointment, but at least it has given the Magpies an opportunity to rest and regroup ahead of a clash with now Manager-less Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Newcastle boss will certainly be hoping for a reaction to the past weekend's heavy defeat, and with his influential midfield pair returning to the fray, Pardew will be confident of a positive display from what looks set to be his strongest starting eleven since the 3-0 win over Manchester United in January.

What European Qualification could mean for Newcastle

Barcelona earned around €51m from last season's triumph

Newcastle are in a four way fight for 4th place in the Premier League, and more importantly Champions League football, but they will have maintain their good form throughout the next three months of the season if they are to earn a place in European football's top competition.

A finish in the top four would represent a major turnaround for a club that was in the second-tier of English football just three years ago, but what would it mean financially for the resurgent Magpies?

To properly answer this question we need to take a number of different issues into account. The first of which is Premier League prize money. Each Premier League team is awarded a sum of money at the end of each season, regardless of where they finish, but the amount they receive is dependent on their final finishing position.

Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, and were awarded a merit payment of £6,810,804 for this achievement. The chart below shows what Newcastle earned from TV money and other add ons.

However, Newcastle's second half capitulation against West Bromwich Albion cost them around £2.3m, the Magpies were 3-0 up on the final day of the season against the Baggies, a result that would have seen them finish in 9th place. Somen Tchoyi's quickfire hat-rick dashed the Geordies' hopes of a top half finish, and that had a significant impact on Newcastle's finances for the year, as Aston Villa, who did finish 9th, received a merit payment of £9,081,072.

Most observers would agree that Newcastle are destined to finish higher than 12th this season, and as a result they should receive a much higher merit payment. Arsenal ended the campaign in 4th last year, earning the Gunners a merit payment of £12,864,852.

So in the interest of this discussion, let us assume that Newcastle will finish 4th and qualify for the Champions League. The Magpies would receive almost £13m for their exploits in the Premier League, but how much money would their presence among Europe's elite earn them.

Initially, clubs that reach the Final Qualifying Round - which is where Newcastle would enter the tournament-receive €2.1m (£1.76m) as prize money. Should they reach the Group Stage then Uefa would award the club an extra €3.9m (£3.3m).Each team that enters the Group Stage also receives €550,000 for each group game as well as performance related bonuses (€800,000 for a win and €400,000 for a draw).

Therefore the very least that Newcastle could expect to receive in participation payments, should they make it to the Group Stage, is €9.3m (£7.79m).

The next aspect to take into account is television money. Each side that qualifies for the Champions League Group Stage receives a share of the television funding from the 'market pool'. The excellent blogger 'The Swiss Rambler' explains that the amount a club receives from the pool is dependent on a number of variable factors:

1) The size/value of a country's TV market (the UK TV market is likely to be larger than most others, so English teams should receive more than Spanish and Italian sides)

2) The number of representatives from your country. (England has a maximum of four representatives, so an English side would therefore earn less than a Dutch team, as Holland has a maximum of just two representatives.)

3) The position of a club in it's domestic championship in the previous season. (If two teams from the same country reach the Quarter Finals, the one that finished higher in their domestic league would receive a higher share)

4) The number of matches a club has played in the current season's Champions League.

The final amount that Newcastle could receive from TV money is difficult to estimate, as it depends on so many variables. However, the figures from last year (shown below) give a better indication of the sum of money the club may earn if they were to qualify for the tournament.

Let's work on the rather negative but somewhat realistic assumption that Newcastle are eliminated in the Group Stage. No English teams were knocked out at this stage in 2010/2011, so therefore I have decided to use Rangers (who operate within a similar TV market) and Werder Bremen as examples. Bremen are a particularly good example as the German TV market is quite large and the money made from television was distributed between three teams (only England had four representatives in the Group Stages in 2010/2011).

Both teams were eliminated from the Champions League in the Group Stage, Bremen received €8,656,000 from the market pool, while Rangers - as a result of being Scotland's only representative in the Group Stage - were awarded €9,326,000. Taking these figures into account, it is fair to assume that a Newcastle side knocked out in the Champions League Group Stage would receive around €9m (£7.5m) in television revenue.

Newcastle would also procure additional revenue from the inevitable increase in sponsorship that would come as a result of qualifying for the competition, but it is a figure that is difficult to try and estimate at this stage.

Four additional home games would be held at St James' Park if Newcastle were to compete in the Final Qualifying Round and the Group Stage, those extra matches would obviously boost earnings through gate receipts and money made from the commercial side of the matchday experience. The club's accounts for the 2010/2011 season have yet to be released - though early figures suggest that the Magpies earned approximately £88.5m - and therefore at this stage I will avoid attempting to guess just how much of an impact the four extra games would have on Newcastle's yearly matchday revenue.

However, taking into account the money made from Premier League & Champions League prize money and television revenue, it is fair to estimate that qualifying for the Champions League and making it through to the Group Stage would see Newcastle collect almost £30m, and that is excluding sponsorship and extra revenue earned on the additional match days.

Qualification for the Europa League would still see Newcastle receive a considerable sum of money, a 7th place finish - which could well be enough to secure European football this season - earned Everton £10,594,584 in 2010/11. However, the prize money in Europa League is significantly less than that of the Champions League, this year's Europa League winners will recieve just €20m (16.75m), whereas Manchester United received a total of €53.2m (£44.6m) for finishing last year's Champions League as runners up.

Football teams are motivated by trophies and success, not facts and figures, but the prospect of another £30m in the bank should be all the motivation that Newcastle, as a club, need to push as hard as possible to try and take their place among Europe's elite footballing powers.

St James' Park a fortress once again

The 2010/2011 season represented a respectable return to the top flight for Newcastle United, as they finished in 12th place, comfortably avoiding relegation in the process.

However, one aspect of the last campaign that prevented the club from finishing higher up the table was their home form. Newcastle recorded some remarkable results during their first season back in the Premier League - including the 5-1 win over Sunderland and the magnificent 4-4 draw with Arsenal - but still they only managed to win six of their nineteen home matches. Of the fourteen home games that Newcastle didn't win, eight were draws and six were defeats.

Fast forward to the present day, Alan Pardew's side are 5th in the Premier League and have only lost two home games in the 2011/2012 campaign so far. Only Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion have experienced triumph at  St James' Park this season. Arsenal; Tottenham and Swansea have all left Tyneside with a hard earned point, while seven teams have come away empty handed.

There are a number of reasons why Newcastle have been able to turn around their home form so dramatically. The first and most obvious one is the crowd, attendances at St James' Park are up on the previous campaign, with the lowest turnout coming in August when the Magpies beat Fulham 2-1 in front of 42,684. Since then the majority of home gates have been in excess of 48,000.

As a result, the intimidating atmosphere for which Newcastle's historic home is famous has been a constant feature throughout the season. It was especially evident back in early January, when the raucous home support fed off an inspired Newcastle performance to help their side gain a 3-0 win over Champions Manchester United.

The challenge for teams that come to St James' Park is to silence the crowd, but this is a task that has become increasingly difficult in recent times, due to the incredible improvement Newcastle have made as a team in almost every area of the field.

While the Magpies' defence has occasionally struggled to deal with pace, they have proved to be a unit that is  almost impossible to break down at home. Newcastle have conceded just twelve goals at home this season, less than both Manchester United and Tottenham. It is also worth noting that six of these goals came in the defeats to Chelsea and West Brom.

A breach of the Newcastle backline does not automatically lead to a goal for the opposition these days, as 23-year-old Dutch keeper Tim Krul continues to enjoy a phenomenal year. A tremendous shot stopper who is dominant at set pieces and cool under pressure, the Holland international has been integral to Newcastle's continuing renaissance.

The stability and strength of Newcastle's defence has allowed Pardew's side more freedom as an attacking force, the Magpies are able to be direct and confident going forward, safe in the knowledge that the back four has the ability to deal with any number of things thrown in their direction.

Newcastle's primary striker Demba Ba has been in devastating form as a consequence of his side's fluid and enthusiastic attacking approach, the Senegalese hitman has notched sixteen goals in what has been an ultra impressive year for the former Hoffenheim man. There will also be confidence on Tyneside that new striker Papiss Cisse can go on a similar scoring run after his stunning debut winner against Aston Villa last Sunday.

Strength in depth has played a key role in Newcastle's success this season. Ba; Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye have all been absent at certain points of the season for a variety of reasons, but the likes of Danny Guthrie and James Perch have filled in admirably and made vital contributions in a number of Newcastle victories this term.

Solid in defence and deadly in attack with a versatile and large first team squad, Newcastle possess all the qualities of a top six side and are a tough nut to crack on home turf. The added, and not so secret ingredient, is the crowd, which on its day can will an opposing team into near submission. In this campaign, the two have worked in perfect harmony, turning St James Park into a fortress that is once again feared by teams up and down the land.

Cisse stunner helps Newcastle see off Villa

Papiss Cisse fires home the winner on debut for Newcastle

The script was written, and Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse didn't forget their lines as Newcastle's Senegalese strike force fired Newcastle to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa. 

Newcastle had taken the lead through Ba's close range strike, but Robbie Keane equalised deep into first half injury time to level matters. However, it was Cisse who would write the headlines as his sumptuous left footed volley sent St James' Park into delirium and sealed all three points for Alan Pardew's side.

Cisse started the contest from the substitutes bench, but was called into the action earlier than anticipated after Leon Best sustained medial ligament damage in a challenge with Richard Dunne.

Villa had enjoyed the better of the early stages, Darren Bent forcing two good saves from Tim Krul as the visitors pressed to try and find a way through a stern Newcastle defence.

However, it was Newcastle who struck first. Danny Guthrie's accurate delivery was initially met by Ryan Taylor, but after a strong challenge from Stephen Warnock the ball fell to Ba, and the Newcastle top scorer made no mistake as he stabbed past Shay Given to score on his return from the African Cup of Nations and give his side the lead.

What followed was a show of solidarity by Ba and new boy Cisse, who celebrated the goal by engaging in a joint prayer, before being mobbed by their team mates.

Taylor sustained an injury in the challenge with Warnock, and had to be stretchered off as result, Gabriel Obertan taking his place on the right side of midfield.

The delay in removing Taylor from the field led to six minutes of injury time, and despite Newcastle looking comfortable for the majority of the additional minutes, Villa were able to take advantage. Charles N'Zogbia beat Danny Simpson to get to the byline and deliver a well placed cross which was met by Keane, who tapped in to level the scores on the stroke of Half Time.

Alex McLeish made one change during the interval, replacing former Newcastle loanee Stephen Ireland with Barry Bannan. 

The switch had little effect on the game, and Villa seemed to lose the initiative as Newcastle began to control the early stages of the second period. The withdrawal of Charles N'Zogbia for Emile Heskey seemed to hinder the visitor's cause further, but still Pardew's men could not convert their superiority into goals. Indeed, Cisse's moment looked to have passed when he headed over from Danny Guthrie's cross.

The former Freiburg man was to be handed another chance, and it was one that he finished off emphatically to restore Newcastle's advantage. The Senegalese international chested down Jonas Gutierrez's delivery on the edge of the area, before unleashing a beautiful left footed volley that flew past Given and into the top corner of the net.

Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse celebrate Newcastle's winner

 

The strike lifted the roof of St James Park and marked a special moment for Newcastle's new number 9, as he opened his account in front of the Gallowgate End.

Cisse almost added another soon after as he latched on to a deflected Obertan cross to fire a low effort towards the bottom corner of the goal, but this time the strike was deflected wide and away from danger.

Villa desperately searched for an equaliser and came close to snatching a point when Krul made a smart save to deny substitute Gary Gardner. That was to be all she wrote for the visitors, as Newcastle were able to see out the game and wrap up a win that keeps them in contention for a Champions League berth. 

Newcastle now go on the road to White Hart Lane to face Harry Redknapp's Tottenham. The Magpies do not have a great record in that area of North London, but Pardew's men will be confident of taking something from the game with their African strike force firing on all cylinders. 

Protecting against pace the formula for beating old friends

Leon Best scored for Newcastle at Villa Park in September

Newcastle United are sitting pretty in 5th place in the Barclays Premier League, and their European challenge is beginning to gather momentum.

The Magpies do not occupy a false position, as many critics would have you believe, but it is one that is surprising given the standard of their performances in recent weeks.

The primary reason for Newcastle's dip in performance has been their inability to defend against teams that possess pacy attacking players. Both West Brom and Fulham have brutally exposed this deficiency in recent times.

This Sunday Newcastle welcome former players Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia to St James' Park, as Pardew and his charges get set to take on Aston Villa. Villa are a side blessed with a plethora of fleet footed attackers, and although Alex McLeish's side have disappointed this season, the Newcastle backline will still need to be on their guard if they are to come away from the contest with maximum points.

Newcastle head into the game on the back of a 2-0 success at Blackburn Rovers in midweek. It was another below par display from Pardew's side and Blackburn dominated for large periods. Still Newcastle showcased the resiliency that has defined their campaign and it proved to be enough to snatch victory.

Villa endured an eventful Wednesday night as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers at Villa Park.

A key moment in Newcastle's triumph was Pardew's decision to sacrifice Hatem Ben Arfa for James Perch and revert to a 4-4-2 formation from the controversial 4-2-3-1, a system that had been in place to accommodate the sizeable talent of Ben Arfa.

The enigmatic former Marseille man failed to make a significant impression on the game, and the switch - which was made just after the Half Time interval - enabled Newcastle to repel attacks more comfortably than they had done in the 1st half as Perch produced an impressive shift in central midfield.

I have discussed the pros and cons of the 4-2-3-1 in a previous entry, and it is my view that Pardew must now stick with the 4-4-2 if are Newcastle are to continue to win matches on a regular basis. The formation aids defensive balance and is also an effective attacking system, provided that the strikers selected are of sufficient quality.

Newcastle do have strikers of great quality, Demba Ba and new signing Papiss Cisse are both set to be involved after returning from the African Cup of Nations, although the latter is likely to start from the bench.

Yohan Cabaye is still suspended following his three match ban for his involvement in an incident with Brighton's Adam El-Abd, and this leaves Pardew with a decision to make in central midfield. Ryan Taylor and James Perch - despite recent good displays at the position - are both makeshift options in that area of the field. Sunday's clash is set to be a high powered contest, and therefore I believe that Newcastle will be better served by a more athletic presence, such as 19-year-old Mehdi Abeid, in the middle of park.

Only the fine reflexes of Given kept Newcastle from taking all three points from Villa Park the last time the sides met back in September. It was an enthralling contest which Newcastle bossed following Leon Best's 2nd half leveller, which came after Gabriel Agbonlahor had pounced on a defensive lapse to give Villa the lead.

Fans will anticipate another free flowing and exciting game on Sunday, both teams boast dynamic options and therefore defence will be important than ever in determining who emerges victorious.

Preferred Lineup

I don't usually do this, but below is my preferred Newcastle lineup for Sunday's game with Aston Villa:

4-4-2

GK Krul
RB Simpson
CB Williamson
CB Coloccini
LB Santon
RM Ben Arfa
CM Abeid
CM Guthrie
LM Gutierrez
ST Best
ST Ba

Substitutes: Elliot; R.Taylor; Perch; Obertan; Gosling; Ameobi; Cisse

Newcastle punish Blackburn profligacy to go fifth

Gabriel Obertan slots home to clinch victory for Newcastle

It is often said that the mark of a good team is having the ability to grind out victories when you aren't playing well. If that is indeed the case, then Newcastle United are a very good team.

Newcastle have become experienced in pulling off such a feat throughout the 2011-12 campaign, and they were able do so again, as they triumphed despite putting in a distinctly below par performance against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

The visitors took the lead inside 15 minutes, as Ryan Taylor's long range effort was deflected past Paul Robinson and into the net by defender Scott Dann.

Blackburn responded magnificently to going behind and should have been level when Gael Givet's effort was cleared off the line by Danny Simpson - whose presence in the game marked his 100th appearance for the club.

Rovers continued to enjoy the better of the play as they looked for a way to break down the impressive Newcastle defence. Martin Olsson and Anthony Modeste both went close for the home side, and Steve Kean's men were almost gifted an equaliser when Leon Best headed against his own crossbar from a Rovers' corner.

A first half flash-point came from Junior Hoilett, who incensed Ryan Taylor when the Canadian blatantly dived on the edge of the Newcastle area in a vain attempt to win his side a penalty. The incident produced a mini-melee which resulted in Taylor being booked for his over exuberant reaction.

Blackburn didn't have to wait long for a penalty however, as two minutes before Half-Time Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot after Danny Simpson fouled Anthony Modeste.

David Dunn stepped up to try and draw the teams level before the interval, but he was denied by Tim Krul, who produced a fine save before reacting quickly to block Givet's effort from the resulting rebound.

Blackburn continued their search for an equaliser after the break, and Newcastle - who brought on James Perch in place of Hatem Ben Arfa at the start of the half - persisted with their negligence in possession. Still Rovers were unable to breach the visitors' backline and when they did, they were met by the towering presence of Krul.

The Dutchman was in formidable form between the sticks, and although Formica, Dunn and Modeste all spurned chances, Blackburn never truly looked like scoring.

Rovers rapidly began to run out of ideas, and their hopes of taking something from the game were dashed when a through ball from Peter Lovenkrands put Gabriel Obertan free on the break. The winger, who has been heavily criticised by some sections of the Newcastle support, showed great composure to slot past Robinson and earn his side a vital three points.

The victory puts Newcastle up to fifth in the Premier League table, and also moves them within striking distance of a Champions League place. Pardew's side are now just three points behind fourth placed Chelsea, and with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse set to return for Sunday's clash with Aston Villa, the Magpies' boss will be confident of catching the Blues, who face Manchester United at the weekend.

Newcastle's performance was one that lacked verve and attacking invention, however, the fact that they were able to pull off the result on the back of an impressive defensive display will be a shot in the arm for a rearguard that has endured a difficult couple of weeks.

Cabaye update: Midfielder banned for three games as appeal fails

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye's appeal against a violent conduct charge has been rejected by The Football Association.

The Frenchman will now serve a three match ban and miss tonight's clash with Blackburn Rovers, he will also be absent for Newcastle's home game against Aston Villa, and the trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Cabaye's suspension is another example of the hypocrisy that the FA's disciplinary panel continue to display. The Frenchman has received the ban for a seemingly innocuous kick aimed at Brighton's Adam El-Abd. However, players such as Frank Lampard, Peter Crouch and Robin Van Persie have all escaped punishment in recent times, despite committing offences that the laws of the game deem worthy of a red card.

More pressingly it presents a dilemma for Alan Pardew, who must now decide how to plug the gap in central midfield that Cabaye's enforced absence has created.