Newcastle v Tottenham - Premier League match preview
Newcastle v Tottenham Newcastle play their first home game since the 3-0 loss in the Tyne-Wear derby and go looking to set the record straight after another 3-0 defeat away at Chelsea last weekend.
This season is in danger of fading into nothing with no cup competitions to aim for and the ghastly (from a club perspective) prospect of qualifying for the Europa League seemingly beyond us. It kind of feels like when you pop into a shop just before it closes, you know when all the staff just want to lock up and bugger off. That's how I'd describe how I feel about the rest of the season anyway.
Having said I'm still a fan, as we all are for our sins, and we still have games to play and points to try and pick up so I'll always want United to win, including tomorrow against Tottenham. You never know, perhaps it might spark some inspiration into a fanbase that is rapidly losing some of the passion expected from Newcastle fans?
Newcastle:
Loic Remy serves the last of his three game suspension having previously sat out the defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea. Cheick Tiote, Fabricio Coloccini, Mathieu Debuchy, Papiss Cisse, Yoan Gouffran, Gabriel Obertan and Gael Bigirimana are all said to be injured although Tim Krul is fine after appearing to pick up an injury at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham:
Erik Lamela, Sandro and Vlad Chriches are out but Andros Townsend is available once more after returning from injury as a substitute against Everton at the weekend.
Previously...
Against the odds, and despite an attacking barrage from Tottenham, Newcastle go looking for a league double over Spurs thanks to a goal from Loic Remy securing a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane back in November last year.
We have a good recent record against Tottenham and have not lost to Spurs at St James' Park since August 2004 - a 1-0 win for the visitors. A total of 71 games have been played here in the North-East with United winning on 30 occasions and Tottenham taking all of the points in 22 of those 71 matches.
Overall it is Tottenham who shade the head-to-head having won 60 of the 143 meetings to date. United have won 52 times with 31 draws making up the numbers.
Stats and facts...
Newcastle have lost their last three league matches at St James' Park. They have not lost four in a row at home since 1987.
They have had just eight goalscorers in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other side.
United have won just one of the last seven league matches. The other six resulted in losses with no goals being scored.
Tottenham have lost just two of their 12 Premier League away games this season - away at Arsenal and Manchester City.
Only Jose Mourinho has picked up more points than Tim Sherwood since the former Spurs player took over the managerial reins at White Hart Lane.
Final thought...
Well on the plus side, my new keyboard seems to work so I'm back in business in terms of being able to write articles and stuff like that.
On the other hand we're in poor form and I'll probably end up writing about another loss come full-time. Sorry to be pessimistic and all that, but it's how I feel. The sale of Cabaye was always on the cards and I'm not surprised by it one bit, but the failure to acquire a replacement (again not a real surprise) seems to have sucked the life out of things. That and the derby defeat and everything else that is going on really.
We made a cracking start to the season but now it looks like it will all be going to waste. It doesn't matter in the boardroom as they are happy that we're pretty much secure for life in the Premier League again next term, but as fans you have to wonder if this is it?
Howay the lads!
Date: Wednesday, 12th February, 2014
Time: 7:45pm
Venue: St James' Park
