Match Preview/Stats/Facts: NUFC v BORO
By Tyne-Talk
February 2 2008
Newcastle United face Middlesbrough in the Tyne-Tees Derby tomorrow lunchtime in a televised clash. Keegan will see his limited side face a confident Middlesbrough team who successfully secured the services of Afonso Alves from Heerenveen this week, a record breaking signing for the club in the dying hours of the transfer window.
Newcastle go into the game without Defenders Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye, Striker Obafemi Martins & Midfielder Geremi.
They welcome back to the side Emre who has served a 3 match ban, Jose Enrique who has recovered from a calf strain and also hope to see Mark Viduka fully recovered from a thigh injury in time to play.
If Viduka manages to play he will come face to face with old team-mates David Wheater and Robert Huth neither of whom will allow him an easy match. However, he has been spared from squaring up to former team-mate Jonathon Woodgate once more, after he moved to Spurs earlier in the week.
For Middlesbrough, Mido is raring to go and may start after Tuncay Sanli was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Southagate is yet to decide on whether to start Jeremie Aliadiere who has a groin problem and defender Emanuel Pogatetz who was suffering with an ankle injury.
Despite injecting confidence into the side Alves is unlikely to play against Newcastle as Middlesbrough are still trying to secure a visa for the Brazilian.
Newcastle drew 2-2 with Boro in August when they met at the Riverside, hopefully Boro's away record will help Newcastle secure a win. Middlesbrough have scored just 8 goals on the road and lost 6 games, they are however unbeaten in their last 5 matches despite only winning 3 of their last 9 matches.
On the other hand Newcastle have forgotten how to score in the Premier League and are yet to win a match under the management of Kevin Keegan, they go into the match having won just one game in their last 10 of all competitions, that game was a 4-1 win against stoke in the FA Cup.
If Newcastle fail to secure a win against Middlesbrough tomorrow their North East rivals will replace them in the league. The match is a must win for both teams.
Newcastle United | Middlesbrough | |
24 | Played | 24 |
27 | Points | 25 |
7 | Won | 6 |
6 | Drawn | 7 |
11 | Lost | 11 |
42 | Goals Conceded | 37 |
27 | Goals Scored | 21 |
The most likely teams to start are:
Newcastle:
Given, Carr, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Cacapa, Butt, Smith, Duff, Milner, Owen, Viduka.
Middlesbrough:
Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, O'Neil, Arca, Rochemback, Downing, Mido, Aliadiere.
Confirmation of the teams prior to the match.