Derby County v Newcastle United Preview

Derby County v Newcastle United Preview
FA Barclays Premiership
17/09/2007
The County Ground
Live on Setanta Sports 8pm Kick-Off

A Monday night kick-off see's Derby County on the back of a thrashing by Liverpool and Newcastle still unbeaten at the moment. With the international break over, I for one don’t like these 2 week international breaks as nothing seems to happen on the domestic football front and like most toon fans that put their club before country. Newcastle’s only doubts are Emre who returned injured again playing for Turkey (read my next article on him), Viduka who went off at half-time v Wigan with a hamstring injury but is expected to play and Enrique who also has a hamstring injury. On the other injuries Joey Barton has started light training after breaking his foot in July and is expected to be fit for our Carling Cup match away to Arsenal. Duff, Carr expected back in November, Babayaro I don’t what his injury is or where he is and Ramage has said his season is most likely over after knee ligament damage v The Smogs. Beye and Faye are included in the squad with Beye expected to go right back in place of Steven Taylor and Faye I expect to be on the bench. Steve Harper is expected to stay in goal with reports of given demanding talks with Big Sam.

Flashback: Derby County 2 v 3 Newcastle United 13/04/2002

Newcastle just about ensured their participation in next season’s Champions League with a memorable comeback which just about resigned Derby to relegation. Derby heading towards a shock win against an out of form Newcastle side had a two goal advantage till the 71st minute when Laurent Robert scored another fantastic free-kick beating the keeper at his near post. From then on it was all Newcastle with an equaliser coming just minutes after with Solano playing a lovely low cross in which Kieran Dyer scored to the delight of the away following. Then on Newcastle had various chances notably Jermaine Jenas smashing the cross bar with a brilliant attempt from 25 yards out to win the game. In this time Alan Shearer needed to go off (replaced by Lua-Lua) after an accidental clash of heads with his best mate Rob Lee (now playing for Derby), this forced change untimely changed the game for Newcastle. With 2 mins left and all the pressure from Newcastle the comeback was completed with Solano cutting inside again like the 2nd (both were off-side) to find Lua-Lua who put it back of the net for his first ever premiership goal and his somersault celebration and also send Bobby Robson and the travelling toon army into raptures and condemning derby to relegation.

Squad: Harper, Given, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor, Cacapa, Faye, Edgar, Beye, Milner, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Pattison, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi, Owen.

Likely Team:
Harper
Beye Cacapa Rozehnal N’Zogbia
Smith Geremi Butt Milner
Owen Viduka

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)