Match: Newcastle v Sunderland
Date: 14th April 2013
Time: 12:00
Competition: Premier League
Form (league) : Newcastle - WLLWL Sunderland - LLDLD
Last Meeting: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle
Here it is, the Tyne Wear derby. Both sides are still in relegation trouble, although Newcastle could say they are only a win off safety, sitting on 36 points, 5 ahead of the bottom 3, but they really need to make sure they got those points and not be complacent. Looking at their fixture list, they have the hard games at home and the games that are away well, if they were at home they'd be safe. They still should get some points but someone to get them goals until the end of the season, because without Ba, they have no reliable goal scorer. Sunderland, under new manager Paolo Di Canio are just out of the bottom 3 on goal difference after the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, where the manager claimed the players were unfit. I think their fixture list is kinder, which is why I am now tipping them to stay up this season. Opinions always change, but I am confident they will stay up, which is also because I rate Di Canio highly as a manager.
Sunderland have just 34 league goals this season and without 11 goal Steven Fletcher, they badly need someone to step up, which is sort of the same situation their derby rivals are in. Time for Graham to step up, who looked a decent player at Swansea. He hasn't scored in 7 yet, but he needs service from hot and cold McClean and Adam Johnson. The wide men only have 6 goals in the league between them so they need a really good end to the season to even maybe save their own Sunderland careers. Gardner has 4 from the spot and 6 in total so he will be looked upon to dispatch any penalties. Di Canio will surely be trying to get them more lethal this week in training. Cisse is up to 8 for the season now and I think he'll reach double fingers as you can't doubt his incredible technique and finishing. Cabaye is also good from set-pieces and will be key in the run-in. After that, both teams struggle for goals, so it will be very tight, probably with very few goals.
As I said, it will be very tight and I think both sides will be disappointed, with Newcastle the happier. 1-1.
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Tyne-Wear Derby Preview!
posted on 12/4/13
There's only one thing that I'm sure about on sunday . . . . Le Skunks will again try to 'kick us off the park'
I've got no reason to believe that they'll be anything other than 'filthy'
posted on 12/4/13
By the way . . . . Ffanny Graham isn't available
posted on 14/4/13
Suppose I would've been happy with a draw in hindsight now. Gutless from us, outfought from start to finish. Enjoy mackems.
posted on 14/4/13
Well, the Skunks were 'filthy' in the first half, and Adam Johnson is very lucky that he hasn't got a broken leg, but they got what they deserved
We were 'miles' better than them
We have been waiting outside The Scrapyard for blinking ages, and are only just boarding the buses . . . .just because the Skunks always look to cause trouble
posted on 14/4/13
Cheers, 'no one'
posted on 14/4/13
I was wrong ( miss-informed ) about Ffanny Graham, wasn't I
posted on 15/4/13
I've had worse days than yesterday I must say..
PS..It looks like le Skunks were having a 'smashing' time after the game yesterday.. Uncivilized as well as unwashed eh!
posted on 16/4/13
We've always known about both, mind
posted on 16/4/13
Isn't it amazing how this solitary flare thrown by a single (idiotic) Sunderland fan somehow landed on a disabled youth in a wheelchair...If one was cynical, one might suspect it has been set up to deflect attention away from the disgraceful post match behaviour by large swathes of their so called supporters..
posted on 16/4/13
I thought that, too, Al . . . . it seems to be blinking obvious to me