Barclays Premiership - Match 15
 

Season 2007-2008

NEWCASTLE UNITED

 v

BIRMINGHAM
  Date: Sunday 9th December 2007
  Venue: St James' Park
  Kick Off: 2:00am (AEST)
  Referee: Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
  Australian Live TV: Foxsports 3 via viewers choice
  Internet Live TV Coverage: Check http://www.football4less.com & http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/ closer to kick off.
  Weather Forecast: 5c
 

 
  Betting:
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Newcastle win Draw Birmingham  win
$1.83 $3.35 $4.60
   
  Squad:
  Given, Harper
Beye, Enrique, Rozehnal, Taylor, Edgar
Milner, Geremi, Butt, Emre, Barton, N'Zogbia,
Smith, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi
   
  Team News:
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- Peter Ramage (knee) is out for the rest of the season after getting inured at Middlesbrough.
- Celestine Babayaro (back) has injured his back and we've no idea when he's back.
- Abdoulaye Faye (hamstring) is out after getting injured against the mackems.
- Stephen Carr (hamstring) got injured again against Blackburn and no return date has been mentioned.
- Michael Owen (thigh) is out for a couple more weeks after getting injured on international duty.
- Damien Duff (ankle) is now back in training and should be ready for 1st team action very soon.
- Cacapa (knee) is still out.
   
  Pre-game comments:
  Big Sam:
"We can't waste the Arsenal result and performance by any more slip-ups, we've got to take it on from here because there is no doubt that we deserved to beat Arsenal. We were looking for a response after Liverpool and in the past two games we have certainly got that. Now it's about kicking on because we have games coming up which we should be looking to win.

The fans were mangnificent and you can see what a difference it makes to the players, all I can ask for is the same again from everybody - fans and players. We went a goal down early on against Arsenal but everyone showed character and in the end that almost won us the game. We've shown earlier in the season how St.James' can be a fortress, but now we've got to get it back to that starting with Birmingham on Saturday."

Shay Given:
“The performance against Arsenal proved that everyone is united, that we’re sticking together and that we’re all behind the manager, that’s what has to happen to get this club moving forward again. There have been some bad results and when you are a big club like Newcastle, the pressure mounts on the team and on the manager. The gaffer understands that, he knows that’s the case. There’s so much speculation, but there always is here. It’s the same at all big clubs. But everyone showed that we’re behind him (during a gripping game against Arsene Wenger’s side) and that we all want to move the club forward. We’re relieved to have stopped the losing sequence at home, the previous two home games were disappointing. This was a big game for us in front of a full house and it was important to put the previous two games behind us and give a real response to those two poor performances. We did that.

The atmosphere was special, the supporters gave us a great response before, during and after the game. They’ve seen how hard we’ve worked. Their reaction is a positive thing. I’ve been here a long time and I understand them. Our supporters want every player to give their all and when that happens, they can see it from the stands. We worked hard for each other and gave it a good go. The fans appreciate that. The pressure is always there at big clubs.

We need to do the same against Birmingham because it’s a massive game. We have to ensure we get the same work rate and the same attitude from everyone. We’ve shown what we can do and how we can play, we can’t duck below that at the weekend. We have to have the same performance from everyone. The feeling is a lot different. Everyone was much happier after the game. There was disappointment that we didn’t beat Arsenal. But we can take great heart from the fact that we were the better team. After the huge disappointment there has been in the last couple of home games, we all went home happier. We’ve been going home as disappointed as the supporters but this was better.”

Steven Taylor:
"The fans make such a difference when they are like they were against Arsenal - they really are a 12th man. You could see what response it gets from the players and if it's the same on Saturday then I'm sure we'll win.

We've taken a lot of stick in recent weeks and it was about time that we started to put things right and pull together. We did that against Arsenal and in the end it was disappointing not to win. We admit there have been some poor performances but the past two have been good and that gives us something to build on. We feel we have turned a corner now and Birmingham is a massive game because it's a great chance to get back to winning ways.

Of course I haven't got the best of memories of the last Birmingham game here, but that's in the past and I'll only be thinking about the game in hand when kick-off comes. It was a great feeling to score at St.James' Park on Wednesday night, there is no better feeling, and hopefully I can chip in with a few more along the way."

James Milner:
"It was a disappointing night against Birmingham last season but I won't be thinking about that on Saturday because these are the games we need to win. Nothing less than three points will do because we have to kick-on from the Arsenal performance which was excellent.

We were all dispppointed not to win that game and it showed how much ability we have in this squad that we should've won, especially the way Arsenal are playing at the moment. The spirited Arsenal display was a far cry from the disappointment of last month's home defeat against Liverpool, a game which Milner admits made the Newcastle players take a long, hard look in the mirror.

I think everyone looked at themselves after that game, we then went to Blackburn and didn't get what we deserved because the performance was good. Then, against Arsenal, we've gone a goal down inside five minutes and it would've been easy to fold. But the lads rolled their sleeves up and the fans got right behind us and everyone stuck together. It's great when the fans are like that and it makes a huge difference.

Now we've got to build on that against Birmingham and get back to the way our early season form was at home when we were unbeaten."
   
  Match Stats:
 
 @ St James' Park
 All Time: Newcastle 23 wins Birmingham 8 wins Draws 14
 Premier League Only: Newcastle 3 wins Birmingham 1 wins Draws 0
   
 

My thoughts:
 

After two extremely encouraging performances by both the players and the fans, we go into this must win game with some renewed confidence.

All we ask of our team is that it gives 110% and isn't intimated by anybody at home. I think it's fair to say we did that against Arsenal, so Birmingham City should hold no fears what's so ever.

We have some unfinished business with Birmingham after our 1-5 home mauling in the FA Cup last season, so I'm hoping we can lay that ghost of last season to rest.

I'm expecting to see an unchanged side for this game but the only possible change could be a return for Mark Viduka, if Big Sam decides to play 3 upfront.

Lets continue the more positive week we've had and get a much needed 3 points.
 
HOWAY THE LADS!!!
 
  Did you know?
- Birmingham were formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham F.C. in 1905 and finally becoming Birmingham City F.C. in 1943.