Derby (H) Preview

Newcastle United v Derby County
St James’ Park
23/12/2007
2PM
FA Barclays Premiership
Live on SKY

Newcastle go into their last game before Christmas hoping to take revenge for the embarrassing defeat in September to Derby. That remains Derby’s only win of the season and their last goal at home. Away from home they have 1 point and only recently got their first goal in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester United. This should be an easy victory but this is Newcastle and a Newcastle team with Sam Allardyce in charge. Newcastle go into the game with their first back to back wins (home and away) for a year and gaining 7 points from 9. That last game v Fulham has cost Lawrie Sanchez his job after only 9 months in the job and we weren’t any better than them.

We welcome back Taylor into the squad after injury prevented him featuring in the Fulham match. Viduka is now considered to be fully match fit after the behind closed door reserve match v The Smoggies which ended 4-1 to them with Enrique, Taylor, Duff and Ameobi also featuring. The game has came too soon for Michael Owen who is expected to be fit for the Wigan match on boxing day, same for Duff who should be in consideration for a return against Wigan or his former club Chelsea.

Geordie Born Steve Howard will make have his dreams made true with his first appearance at St James’ Park. Former Newcastle favourite Andy Griffin is struggling with a calf injury along with Matt Oakley, David Jones, Stephen Pearson and Robert Earnshaw are also struggling with various injuries. Andy ‘Dirty’ Todd is out.

Neesy Verdict: I will not take a win for granted as it is exactly what we did at their place and we all ended up with egg on our faces. These are games which we should be going all out attack as we have the players to do it especially against a struggling team. I hope we play a simple 4-4-2 formation with 4 defenders at the back, 4 midfielders with 2 wingers in their proper position and 2 strikers up-front. We should win around 3-0 but we can always struggle like in our last two games.

2-0 Win and Hopefully a Good and Overdue Performance

Newcastle team (from): Given, Harper, Beye, Edgar, Enrique, Taylor, N'Zogbia, Rozehnal, Cacapa, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Emre, Milner, Smith, Martins, Viduka.

Derby team (from): Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, McEveley, Griffin, Edworthy, Leacock, Barnes, Oakley, Pearson, Lewis, Fagan, Howard, Miller, Teale, Earnshaw, Feilhaber, Jones, Price.

Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Newcastle 45 wins, Derby 35, Draws 27Prem: Newcastle 8 wins, Derby 3, Draws 2

at Newcastle onlyLeague (inc PL): Newcastle 27 wins, Derby 13, Draws 13Prem: Newcastle 5 wins, Derby 0, Draws 1

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)