Blackburn v Newcastle - Match preview.

As bogey teams go, Blackburn take some beating - literally!

For the last four years we have been beaten home and away by these Lancashire tosspot's, but now the time has come to, hopefully, change that.

I haven't got much time for Blackburn, although I don't quite know why, and it annoys me that they seen to have some sort of trump card against us and always manage to pull off a result regardless of the form that either side is in at the time.

Newcastle will have a secret weapon tomorrow though, and I'm not talking about new boy Shefki Kuqi, although he will go straight into the squad tomorrow against one of his many former clubs. Instead I am talking about the nearly 5,000-strong Toon Army that will be invading the town of Blackburn and will most probably end up in The Fernhurst pub - a focal point for away fans in Blackburn.

Nile Ranger and Leon Best will be fit to feature against Blackburn after shaking off injuries that kept them out of midweek international action. Shefki Kuqi, as already mentioned, will go straight into the squad.

Shola Ameobi is off to get his protective mask for his cheek injury whilst Dan Gosling, Hatem Ben Arfa, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Stephen Ireland and Alan Smith all remain sidelined.

I expect us to name a team that is not to different to the one that started the Arsenal game last weekend. That will leave us lining up with a team consisting of:

Newcastle: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Cheik Tiote, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands.

Blackburn will be without Gael Givet and Phil Jones whilst there are doubts over the fitness of Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina. Roque Santa Cruz is fit after shaking off a groin injury that has kept him out of the last two games.

Last time out Blackburn lost 4-3 away to Wigan in a match that was almost as exciting as our own against Arsenal. In that match they lined up with a team of:

Blackburn: Paul Robinson, Michel Salgado, Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Martin Olsson, Brett Emerton, Jermaine Jones, Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Hoilett, Benjani Mwaruwari, Jason Roberts.

The man in the middle will be Stuart Attwell, and hopefully he can avoid some of the controversy and contentious decisions that tend to follow him around. I'm not holding my breath on that one though as I simply don't rate him as a referee after he allowed an almost continual assault on Joey Barton earlier on in the season against Wolves.

Kevin Nolan still awaits his 50th Premier League goal whilst Steve Harper, after nearly 18 years as a Newcastle player, looks set to make his 100th Premier League appearance for the club.

Blackburn go looking for a seventh consecutive win over Newcastle, and they have managed to win all of their games against promoted clubs so far this season, which doesn't bode well. Jason Roberts, scorer of the winning goal at St James' Park earlier in the season, will make his 400th league appearance if selected.

The game is a regulation 3pm kick-off over here in the UK, so wherever you are in the world don't forget to keep an eye on the time. Hopefully we can all see Newcastle end this jinx against Blackburn, and hopefully the lads and lasses who are travelling have something to shout about come the full-time whistle.

Howay the lads!