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Championship league
leaders Newcastle United host in-form Swansea City at St James' Park in
what looks like being the match of the weekend.
The Swans last visit to Tyneside was back in 1995 when a Paul Kitson
hat-trick gave the Magpies a 3-0 victory in the F.A. Cup, but you have
to go back 26 years for Swansea's last league visit, that time a goal
each from Peter Beardsley and current academy coach, Kenny Wharton, was
enough to give United a 2-0 victory.
These days Swansea City are managed by Paulo Sausa, the 39 year-old
former Portuguese International took over at the Liberty Stadium in June
and after the lose of several key players, Sousa has managed to guide
his side to 4th place by making Swansea a very difficult team to beat.
Despite injury problems and a shortage of goals (Swansea have only
scored 15 goals in 17 games) Swansea are unbeaten 11 matches and boast a
unequalled 10 clean sheets in this Championship campaign, half of which
have been in goalless draws.
The Swansea forward line consists of the recently returned local hero,
Lee Trundle, and former Celtic striker Craig Beattie. However, the
recent loan signing of forward David Cotterill from Sheffield United is
an attempt by Sousa to give his side some more potency up front and give
them that extra cutting edge.
Newcastle themselves are on a great run and are looking for a fifth
straight victory which will extend their unbeaten record at home this
season to nine games.
Kevin Nolan is the Magpies man of the moment, the midfielder is the club
top goalscorer with 9 goals in all competitions, and again it was he who
rescued the Toon with the only goal in a 1-0 win away at Preston on
Monday night.
Up against the meanest defence in the league, manager Chris Hughton will
be looking to his key forward players in
Jonas
Gutierrez, Nolan, and Andy Carroll to show that extra bit of class in
and around the Swansea box that will hopefully be the difference between
the sides.
If fit, the same goes for Ryan Taylor, who's ability to produce a
quality cross and dead ball will be important to feed the aerial threat
of Carroll, and if selected Nile Ranger.
One would imagine that if Newcastle start strongly and produce some
quality attacking football then with a loud vocal backing the home side
should have too much quality for Swansea, but football isn't a simple as
that and Swansea have had the knack of frustrating teams this season, so
this match is set up to be a intriguing encounter.
Here's hoping another Toon victory. (By the way no mention of Ashley and
co doesn't mean its fallen off my radar, far from it actually, but
sometimes its better to focus on just the playing side) |
