Wigan have won four of their last six league games, including wins over Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.
So with that form over the last six games, we know Wigan will be a tough nut to crack this afternoon, even though they went down 2-1 to Fulham last weekend in their last game.
As usual, Alan Pardew will have prepared the team impeccably for this game, and we should see Newcastle trying to hit Wigan on the break, and test just how good that Wigan defense is.
The former Newcastle youngster Gary Caldwell is in the center of their defense, and Gary is the Wigan captain too.
Yohan Cabaye is expected to have recovered from the ankle knock that forced him out of the win over Stoke City last Saturday after only an hour.
Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan are fit again, but are not travelling to Wigan, and will be available for the game st Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Newcastle have four games to play in the next 15 days, and we finish the season on 13th May at Everton, and it’s been an outstanding season for the Newcastle club, who currently have 62 points from their 34 games and stand clear in 4th place.
The lads have nothing to lose, and we have already qualified for Europe – and it’s now a case of showing the fans and the pundits, just how good a team Newcastle are.
It seems almost certain that Alan Pardew will start the same team that rather easily won the game against Stoke City last Saturday, and this is the expected line-up.
Krul
Simpson Coloccini (c) Williamson Santon
Cabaye Tiote Gutierrez
Ben Arfa Cise Demba Ba
Subs: Elliot, Perch, Guthrie Gosling Taylor (R) Ameobi (Sh) Best
That’s a strong team and a strong bench, and it will be difficult for Gabby Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux to even get onto the bench at Chelsea on Wednesday evening, in what promises to be a great game – and an excellent test for Newcastle.
For Wigan Ronnie Stam is the only definite absentee this week, and there will be late fitness tests on Franco Di Santo and Hugo Rodallega, to see if they are able to play.
Wigan are 4th bottom, on 34 points from 35 games played, just one point above safety, and have won only three of their home matches, but five matches away from home, including at the Emirates recently.
Wigan were very good at Newcastle this season, when we won with that late goal from Yohan Cabaye after 81 minutes.
Obviously we’d love to see another win today to make it seven wins in a row for Newcastle, and if our lads can play solidly at the back, and Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba and Ben Arfa are sharp up front, we could be celebrating another win tonight.
Let us know how you think the game will go today:
Howay The Lads!!
101 comments so far
cupiddstunt
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Comment #81rich_toonfan @ # 73
Absolutely that is the game in a nutshell, forwards get into scoring positions and sometimes they score other times they hit row “Z”.
For the number of off the line clearances Danny has made this season it show when in open play he is very aware of when Tim moves off the line and steps in to cover him so making his own luck.
I just find it a bit wearing to constantly hear some players getting slagged and accused of the very same thing other players are being praised for.
Minato
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Comment #82Yeh I’ll be rooting for Birmingham in the play offs as well..hughton has done a fantastic job with them this season as most of us would have expected. I wish him every success as long as it doesn’t mess with us next season.
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Comment #83@Steve 78&80 i agree with that sentiment
Ashton
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #84We should sign Jordy Clasie. He is gonna be the best DM/CM in the world
MagpiesFlyHigh
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:49 PM
Comment #85I’m with Steve.
If we score an early goal we’ll take the three points.
If they do then we’ll be up against it to take the single point. Close one to call as Wigan are on a good run, not anywhere near as good as us, but more desperate….really desperate…
Reckon someone below us will drop points but a draw would be okay here and then three off Chelski.
toonbrother
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #86I’m worried about today. Mark Lawrenson has predicted a Newcastle away win. He usually doesnt have a clue what he’s talking about so I expect the opposite of what he says to come true. Hope I’m wrong
geoff777
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #87I guess our team is picking itself atm.
433 – loving Jonas a LDM perfect for him.
HWTL
MagpiesFlyHigh
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #88cupid
Aye – why are folk still criticising Danny ?
He’s got a good understanding with Krul at set pieces so what’s the deal over goal line clearances ? Worth ten points to us this season, lucky or not…
WWJBD
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Comment #89Chelsea to sign Marin from Germany in the summer, good player but wonder who is signing players as they dont have a real manager atm
Southampton coming up in style as well
Dannyo
Apr 28, 2012 at 1:57 PM
Comment #90@WWJBD
Lol, aye, that is an odd one. Starting to sign players before a manager is officially hired.
Also he’s a winger/ACM, which i expect they really don’t need…
Unless they’re already replacing some of the “old goods” in the stable?
Dannyo
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #91Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Jonas, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba
Unchanged.
tdt
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #92Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Jonas, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba
Elliot, Perch, Ferguson, R.Taylor, Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Best.
Dannyo
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #93bench Elliot, Perch, Ferguson, R.Taylor, Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Best.
obatoyou
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #94football is not important, there are people dying in africa, we should be spending our energy helping them, not watching football games and discussing them, thank you very much
WWJBD
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #95Dannyo
Aye Roman doesnt learn does he…though cant really turn down the oppertunity to sign a good player like Marin for a bargain 7mill (meant to be anyway)
And yeah might not need him but cants ever have too muich quality reckon Hazard is going to Manchester now though, maybe a little more north if Cabs gets in his ear though 😉
geoff777
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Comment #96Quietly confident … but would love an early goal or three.
HWTL
Dannyo
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Comment #97@WWJBD
Haha, well, if Cabs sends him a few whispers and we manage the CL, the only thing it could realistically stand on is funds tbh 😛
The Marin signing, maybe an indication that Roman is willing to keep Di Matteo in charge?
toonpanda18
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #98My predictions are that we beat Wigan 3-1, beat Chelsea 2-0 but lose to man city as I’m going and finally snatching a later equaliser against everton
kingcarty
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #99Anyone got links for today lads?
Oleg G
Apr 28, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #100CH is going to the playoffs with B.City right? 🙂
woolerbill
Apr 28, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Comment #101I hope you all see wigan 3 new 0, so please stop all this rubbish about the camp league. If we get one more point this season we will be lucky. Welcome to the real world.