Rafa has just announced his team for the crucial game at home this afternoon to Huddersfield Town – who are also struggling against relegation.
As expected the team is unchanged from the one that started in the league three weeks ago and got that excellent 3-0 win at home to Southampton.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s how Newcastle United will line up against @htafcdotcom at @StJamesParkNE1 this afternoon (kick-off 3pm BST).
The Magpies are unchanged from the side that beat Southampton 3-0 last time out. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/GI2zkXtbiw
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 31, 2018
Islam Slimani – could make his debut this afternoon
82% of our fans think we will win this game so let’s hope they are right and then we can all celebrate at 5:00pm.
We need all 3 points today.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
164 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:30 PM
Comment #41Gayle should have scored, no excuses.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:30 PM
Comment #42Yedlin with a customary bad decision springing a counter for the opposition – always has one every match. Got away with it.
Gayele misses our latest another golden chance. Great ball from Shelvey.
Got a feeling this one will not end 11 vs 11.
davetoon
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:30 PM
Comment #43Thought Gayle had it there
davetoon
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:31 PM
Comment #44Huds are doing to us what we usually do to sides. Sit back and then break. Must be first time in a long time we will be leading posession stats
JP...from The Rock
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:33 PM
Comment #45Come on Gayle!! FFS man!
davetoon
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:33 PM
Comment #46Gayle with another opportunity. One will surely go in soon
ronaldo aarons
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:34 PM
Comment #47Gayle should score again, no excuses again lol!
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:34 PM
Comment #48Gayle again misses another clear chance. Not good.
Dagwoodz
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:35 PM
Comment #49Read that Slimani is warming up on the sidelines…is that just to stay loose, or does it look like Rafa might make an early change?
JP...from The Rock
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:36 PM
Comment #50Makes you wonder would have Slimani missed those chances? Hmmm. Can’t wait to see what he brings to the team.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:40 PM
Comment #51Diame and Shelvey complementing each other well again, both on it.
Done as well as we did against Southampton so far, just lacking the finishing touch.
toonbrother
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:41 PM
Comment #52Ritchie and Kennedy need to step up their game
Diame and Shelvey are incredible as usual
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:42 PM
Comment #53Shelvey channelling Jonas on the LW for a moment.
toonbrother
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:46 PM
Comment #54p4due about to secure another premier league record
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:47 PM
Comment #55Played really well. Gayle and Ritchie letting the side down with their missed chances.
Should be at least 2-0, perhaps even 3.
davetoon
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:48 PM
Comment #56How are we not in front. Looking for more of the same in the second half with more clinical finishing
JP...from The Rock
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Comment #57He finishing is the only thing missing from us this half. We’ve played brilliantly.
Come on lads bag the win in the second half, Slimani to score on his debut!
HWTL!
Tsunki
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Comment #58Gayle is working desperately for the goal he’s getting into the right places which he hadn’t done for a while. If we keep this up we should get a couple. I fear the sucker punch though they are playing a cagey game. We need to draw out a card on mooy or hogg.
cyprus
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:51 PM
Comment #59Excellent half, big effort from all players, winning battles, lots of movement. No complaints. Gayle getting into good positions, unlucky not to score.
Detail but that was a backpass.
West Lancs Geordie
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:51 PM
Comment #60Good link for the game but foreign commentary:
https://www.streamagratis.com/en/watch/newcastle-united-huddersfield-town
Tsunki
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Comment #61I wouldn’t bring Gayle off yet. I preferably would stick slimani on for Perez. But I know nowt 🙂
Mister Tuff
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Comment #62Don’t think Rafa will bring on Slimani straight after the break – 60mins+ maybe.
Hope we don’t rue those missed chances.
Diame and Shelvey in control so far.
Tsunki
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:55 PM
Comment #63So they reckon that back pass came off his knee? So is that right you only have to miscue your back pass and all is well?
Slank
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:58 PM
Comment #64Huddersfield have parked their bus but I think we will score.
The pairing of Diame and Shelvey have bossed the midfield. Both have been impressive.
Gayle has been unlucky. On another day he would have scored but he keeps getting into the right positions.
The standout player for me has been Lejeune. His forward passing has been almost Shelveylike.
I see Salami coming on mid way through the second half.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 31, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #65Gayle should have had a hat trick by now, got to put his boots on the right feet for the 2nd half.
C’mon lads let’s score a few.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:04 PM
Comment #66Bloody awful decision making from Gayle and then a worse shot from Shelvey to start the half.
Why didn’t Gayle attack the last man?
toonbrother
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:07 PM
Comment #67kennedy has been useless today
toonbrother
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:08 PM
Comment #68that should have been a red card to be fair
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:10 PM
Comment #69Oh now he’s fine!
Bit of amateur dramatics to try and get Kenedy sent off. Swine.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:12 PM
Comment #70Story of the season really. Decent performance yet missing chances to score, good chances. One mistake by us could mean they win the game yet Benitez will get criticism for tactics or performance.
davetoon
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:16 PM
Comment #71What was that about a red card? Hilarious
Bambams
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:17 PM
Comment #72We have been here before….
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:20 PM
Comment #73Why is Shelvey so advanced and static this half?
We’re struggling to make inroads now.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:21 PM
Comment #74Kenedy has been shite, giving it away all the time.. Only thing he’s done well is follow up his own mistakes with tackles.
Perez too has done next to nothing.
davetoon
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:21 PM
Comment #75This second half feels more like a grafting championship game from last year
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:23 PM
Comment #76Lucky to get away with that.
Time for changes Rafa.
Atsu/Murphy and Slimani for Kenedy and Perez.
JP...from The Rock
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:23 PM
Comment #77We were lucky not to concede there. Need to bring Slimani on for Perez. He’s had too little impact today needs subbing.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:24 PM
Comment #78Lascelles lost his man completely by looks of things.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:27 PM
Comment #79Gayle again slowing down play needlessly like he did early on first half.
Decision making all round has gone down a notch from the sharp, positive first-half. Atsu’s wild shot the latest example.
toonbrother
Mar 31, 2018 at 4:28 PM
Comment #80feels like we’ve run out of gas