NUFC v Barnsley – Match Preview

Newcastle entertain Barnsley this afternoon, having been the first team to deny full points to Chris Hughton as permanent manager at Oakwell in December. Unbeaten at home, can Newcastle maintain this record?

The Barnsley fixture was the first played by a former Newcastle player and captain who passed away this week. Charlie Crowe’s debut was in January 1946, with a 4-2 win over Barnsley, and provides a fitting opportunity for supporters to pay respects to the last but one surviving FA Cup winner for the Magpies.

The Oakwell fixture this season provided a huge learning opportunity for Hughton. Barnsley had gone into that match after gaining crucial points late in the game. Substitutions led to the loss of shape, and ultimately an extra 2 points.

Since then, no team have drawn more in the league than Newcastle, whilst nobody has drawn less than Barnsley. Barnsley’s ambiguous form since the turn of the year has seen only Peterborough lose more, and only Forest win more than them.

Manager Mark Robins took over after the Reds had experienced a shaky start to the season. Having lost his first match, results since his 2^nd match would have Barnsley in the top 5 in the league, giving them a reasonable shot at a playoff place.

Robins will be remembered as being a part of Sir Alex’s first trophy winning team at Old Trafford in 1990. His goal in the 3^rd round that year was credited with saving Sir Alex from the sack. He last played under Nigel Clough at Burton Albion.

Following consecutive league wins, Robins will want to maintain as settled a line up as possible. Looking to keep the Magpies at bay will be goalkeeper Luke Steele, formerly a ManU reserve team mate of Danny Simpson. Most of Steele’s league experience was gained whilst on loan at Newcastle’s last home opponents, Coventry. Whilst initially on loan a couple of seasons ago, he is remembered for a man of the match performance at Anfield in the FA Cup, and keeping Chelsea at bay, on their way to an FA Cup semi.

The back four start with captain, Foster. Stoke loan pairing of Shotton and Dickinson are likely to form the central core, with Robert Hassell on the other flank

The midfield carries Latin flair, in the shape of Argentine Hugo Colace who is considered defensive but has shown his ability going forward from deep on a number of occasions. The Paris born Portuguese, Felipe Teixeira is on loan from West Brom and will seek to do his parent club a favour this afternoon.

The midfield line up is likely to be completed by former Liverpool reserve and team mate of Danny Guthrie, Adam Hammill, alongside a player who never made in in the Premier League with Derby and Hull, Nathan Doyle. Icelandic international, Emil Halfredsson, also presses for a recall

The attacking line will be led by top scorer in all competitions, Libyan born son of Serb parents, Maltese international Daniel Bogdanovic. Leading the line will be John Macken, once signed for £5m by Keegan at Man City, and scorer of the final goal in an amazing FA Cup winning comeback from 3-0 against Spurs after Joey Barton had been sent off. As a scoring sub last time out, Canadian international Iin Hume will press for action.

Hughton will look at deploying as aggressive line up as he can at home, despite some notable absentees. Harper will obviously continue in goal, with Simpson automatic at right back, Coloccini and probably Williamson in the middle, and a choice between the returning Enrique or the promising Kadar on the left.

Routledge is missing from the teams that produced the largest winning margins at St James’, leaving a choice in the right midfield. Guthrie is likely to continue in his slightly less preferred position out right, with Smith and Nolan in the middle.

Although only one booking away from suspension, Smith could be held back for one of the forthcoming away fixtures, allowing Ryan Taylor or Pancrate to play on the right. Jonas is the left sided selection.

Up front, Lovenkrands is again available, having missed the last way game. His form of scoring a goal every 45 minutes at home in 2010 means that he will surely start alongside Carroll, himself with 5 in 6 starts. On standby are Ranger, with 2 goals from 4 starts, and Leon Best, yet to make his mark.

Referee for the occasion is Grant Hegley, a partner in a Hertfordshire legal costing firm. His major moment of controversy was failure to red card Newcastle old boy, Keith Gillespie back in October 2005 following which he was suspended. He has only given 2 reds since December 2005.

Hegley has only had one match in charge of the Magpies, the 2-0 away win at Coventry. His 4 away games for Barnsley have all resulted in home wins.

Without a win in the last 10 visits to St James’, Barnsley will certainly not be expected to take all the points, particularly with the home team unbeaten here this season. All of Barnsley’s wins here have, however, been in the 2^nd tier.

It might be too much to expect the same scoreline as the last 2^nd tier encounter, 6-0 to the home side, but the odds definitely point to a home win.

Newcastle Barnsley at St James’ Park

P21 W14 D4 L3 F42 A15

2^nd tier

P13 W8 D2 L3 F26 A9