Game On! Newcastle v West Ham

Newcastle v West Ham at St James' Park

Newcastle play host to West Ham United this afternoon in another Sunday afternoon kick-off - a by-product of our involvement in Europe.

I'm no fan of Sunday kick-offs and feel that the atmosphere inside St James' Park sometimes suffers as a result. We'll need the atmosphere today if we are to grab three points against a West Ham side with many different points to prove.

As mentioned in my match preview, a whole host of former faces familiar with the St James' Park crowd will be coming back to try and haunt us. Andy Carroll will be keen to put the horror show he had on his return with Liverpool last season well and truly behind him while Kevin Nolan will be itching to prove that the club were wrong not to offer him a longer contract extension, or more money, whichever you believe.

In the dugout there will be Sam Allardyce who is clearly still smarting from his dismissal as United boss back in 2008. He must be as he keeps on going on about it! Also likely to be in the dugout is former Toon target Modibo Maiga (cheers Rinton Toon!) who will no doubt be itching to get on the pitch and show that there isn't actually anything physically wrong with him and that his medical, which collapsed suspiciously just before signing Papiss Cisse, shouldn't have been failed.

An interesting game in prospect against a team who, so far, look perfectly equipped to survive in the Premier League following their promotion from the Championship last season. there are worse teams in this league than what has been on show from West Ham so we will need to be on it if we are to take the three points on offer.

My match preview, linked earlier on in the article, is there for you to peruse. It features news of injury and suspension for both sides, some facts and stats, a brief history of meeting between the two sides and some random thoughts regarding team selection taking into account the aforementioned injury and suspension news.

Team news should be printed below as and when it becomes available. I say 'should' because I ballsed up my planning and will actually be on the way to Paris when the teams are announced. I've called in reinforcements so hopefully it will be covered, but if it isn't I'm certain the team news will appear near the top of the 'comments' section below.

Being a rearranged game die to Europe, that unfortunately means that the game isn't live here in the UK. the good news though is that the game will be broadcast on a whole host of overseas channels so picking up a stream will hopefully be easy enough. Once again, if anyone happens to stumble across a good, reliable stream then by all means leave a link to it below.

Which just about wraps it up really. Fingers crossed Newcastle could be in 6th place come the end of the game although for that to happen we need to win our game today by several goals with Tottenham losing at Manchester City by several goals. Failing that 7th will do, but first things first we need to get the three points.

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Saylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (c), Ferguson, Cisse, Ba

Subs: Elliot, Anita, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Marveux, Obertan, Shola

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Reid, Tomkins, McCartney, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis, Banayoun, Carroll

Subs: Speigel, Cole, Maiga, Collins, Demel, O'Neil, Hall