Coventry v NUFC – Match Preview

Newcastle, with 6 wins in a row, visit a Coventry team going into to 10th game since a victory. Coincidentally, the Toon have 6 wins on the trot home and away against Coventry this millennium.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the 2nd tier since January 1965, the highest scoring fixture ever for Coventry and Newcastle with 9 second half goals. Since then The Magpies have the upper hand when visiting the Sky Blues, the last meeting being a Carling Cup encounter won by the Toon.

On that occasion, manager Chris Coleman pitted his wits and resources against his former manager at Fulham, Kevin Keegan, in what turned out to be Keegan’s last win as a manager. Despite losing that thrilling cup match, Coleman has won his last 3 league outings as manager against Newcastle.

Coleman will generally have happy memories of matches against Newcastle, having been his first fixture as manager of Fulham in beating the Magpies 2-1. His points tally there was 16 out of 27.

He succeeds Ian Dowie, who later came to the Toon as assistant coach, Dowie having been sacked by current Chairman Ray Ranson, himself a former right back for Newcastle, and who has been rumoured on a number of occasions to be trying to put together a takeover package for the Toon.

Having topped the table after two games, Coventry are without a home win for almost 3 months. Coleman has selection dilemmas from a limited squad. Whilst he will want to ring changes from the weekend defeat at Scunthorpe, it is difficult to find areas for improvement.

An almost certain starter is keeper, Kieron Westwood, once thought to be a target for Newcastle after performing well at Carlisle. Captain, defender Stephen Wright is missing for the second game in a row, having been sent off in the dramatic 2-2 draw at QPR.

Most of the remaining defensive options are loan players, with towering Richard Wood from Sheff Wed doubtful as one of the central options. Leon Barnett from West Brom and Chelsea youngster Van Aarnolt are available. Marcus Hall’s comeback from injury was curtailed against Scunny, with AFC Wimbledon’s Hussey on standby. Martin Cranie should also figure.

Midfield looks more healthy, with young Chelsea loan player and England U21 international, Jack Cork alongside young Iceland international, Aron Gunnarsson. 30 year old Scottish journeyman, Michael McIndoe will also be likely to start, with David Bell, scorer of a screamer against Doncaster last season, hoping for a recall.

The strike threat comes in the shape of top scorer and Irish international, Leon Best, who actually made his senior debut as a substitute for Southampton against Newcastle back in September 2004. His run of 3 scoring games came to an end last weekend.

Another familiar face up front is another Irish international, Clinton Morrison, who has yet to be on the winning side against Newcastle after 6 matches for Palace, Birmingham and Coventry. He did however score in his last outing, in last season’s Coca Cola Cup. Romany traveller, Freddy Eastwood, could also feature. He will be remembered as a scoring sensation for Southend, where he recorded the fastest ever debut goal after 7.7 seconds.

Chris Hughton is for once unable to name an unchanged starting line up, although his back 5, are certain starters seeking to avoid conceding Newcastle’s 6000th league goal. Having let in only one goal in the last 5 outings, in front of Steve Harper will be Simpson, Steve Taylor, Coloccini and Enrique. They will have to be aware of the aerial and long rang threats, despite Coventry only scoring 5 in the last 8.

The loss of Nolan in midfield through suspension means that at least one change is inevitable. Whilst Smith is an obvious starter, Nolan’s place could be taken by Guthrie if Hughton decides to be more adventurous. The alternative is the increasingly pedestrian Nicky Butt, or even Ryan Taylor.

If not used in the middle, Taylor also remains an option out wide, although visiting supporters will be keen to see Fabrice Pancrate start a game, especially after his stunning weekend strike. The energy he has put in surely means that he can not last 90 minutes, and being naturally more defensive away from home, Hughton might opt to keep him on the bench. Jonas will definitely start on the other flank.

With 4 goals between them in the last 2 games, Hughton will also be tempted to keep his front pairing the same, particularly following Andy Carroll’s Sunday morning indiscretion. Hoping to play some part will be Shola Ameobi, scorer of 4 goals in 4 starts in the league, before his injury. Ranger is also on standby.

Referee for the evening is Grant Hegley, a partner in a Hertfordshire legal costing firm (should give him plenty to chat with Mike Ashley about after the game). His major moment of controversy was failure to red card Newcastle old boy, Keith Gillespie back in October 2005 following which he was suspended.

Hegley has remarkably failed to show a card in 10 of his 18 games this season and only managed 2 draws, so could contribute to an open game, which is what we have come to expect in Newcastle matches against both Coventry, and Chris Coleman sides. The hosts will be less keen to see this referee, under who they have not won, despite 4 goals and 5 draws in 6 games.

All the pointers indicate that a home win is unlikely, and with the tightest defence in the Championship so far this season, the visitors will not expect to concede more than 1, although Coleman’s sides have always scored against Newcastle, as have Coventry at home in the 2nd tier. Much depends on Hughton’s attacking intent in the absence of Nolan, but odds will favour an away win of 2-1, as the Toon’s first ever at this level.

Toon in Coventry

P33 W10 D11 L12 F28 A48

2nd tier

P6 W0 D3 L3 F8 A11

Preview by RexN

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