By Tyne-Talk
April 18 2008

Newcastle host Sunderland this coming Sunday in the 139th Tyne-Wear derby (or 124th league Tyne-Wear derby), with the managers, players and fans all realising how important winning this fixture is, it is likely to be a battle till the end. Newcastle go into the match off the back off 3 straight wins followed by a draw against Portsmouth last weekend. Sunderland come to St James's Park having lost to Manchester City last weekend after winning their previous two games. For Newcastle United, the last 6 games where they have lost just once will give them a boost after a dip in form over the last 5 months which saw the club pick up 3 points from a potential 36. Sunderland however have lost 3 in their last 6 games.

Sunderland could match Newcastle on points (and go above them on goal difference) should they win convincingly on Sunday, whilst Newcastle could potentially go above Tottenham Hotspur who play Wigan at the JJB.

Both Sunderland and Newcastle will be aware of what they need to do on Sunday as Middlesbrough, who currently match Sunderland on points, take on Bolton on Saturday in a 3pm Kick Off.

However, Sunderland's away record isn't exactly something to shout about; they have lost 12, won 2 and drawn 3 games, scored 13 goals and conceded 34.

In comparison:

At home Newcastle have won 7 drawn 5 and lost 5, scored 23 goals and conceded 24. Not great stats but better than Sunderland's away record. Yet in comparison to last season Newcastle could top their performance record.

Emre will not feature at the weekend as he is still recovering from an ankle injury, Given is also out until the end of the season. James Milner could return, after returning to training this week having recovered from a foot injury which has kept him out for the last 5 weeks, and Stephen Carr is fighting to start after struggling with a hamstring problem.

Claudio Cacapa looks set to miss the derby match but Newcastle will be missing nobody through suspension. Keegan looks set to start all three of his strikers once more as he looks to grab the clubs 49^th win against Sunderland.

Michael Owen will be Sunderland's biggest concern, is Newcastle's top goal scorer with 10 goals this season and 6 goals in 10 games. Kenwyne Jones holds Sunderland's top goal scorer title with 7 premier league goals this season.

Former Newcastle youngster Michael Chopra could feature for Sunderland and has already warned his old club to watch out because he will show them what they missed out on by selling him to Cardiff.

He said:

"I would hope I would get a good reception from them.

I think most people realised when I left Newcastle to go to Cardiff that I had to do it because I wasn't really getting many first-team chances on Tyneside.

But whenever I did play for Newcastle, I always gave 100 per cent - just as I do now for Sunderland.

As for me going back to St James's Park as a Sunderland player, I'm sure the Newcastle fans know I am here for footballing reasons - who you support doesn't come into it."

Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Newcastle V Sunderland

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 18/04/2008 11:59

TyneTalk
18/04/2008 11:59

Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Newcastle V Sunderland

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MissC
18/04/2008 12:04

PREVIOUS RESULTS

Sunderland 1 Newcastle 1 (November 2007);

Sunderland 1 Newcastle 4 (April 2006);

Newcastle 3 Sunderland 2 (October 2005);

Sunderland 0 Newcastle 1 (April 2003);

Newcastle 2 Sunderland 0 (September 2002)

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Brad21
18/04/2008 13:17

3-1 for me

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OnTheLevee
18/04/2008 16:43

2-0.. Late goals to Owen (from the spot) and Martins..

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OnTheLevee
18/04/2008 16:43

Maybe.. :-)

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CNDShearerFan16
18/04/2008 16:44

2-1 because the lads seldom make it simple and Sunderland have been in form a bit lately.

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nathan robinson
18/04/2008 18:52

3-1 to the Toon.

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tunyc
18/04/2008 20:42

4-1 to the Toon...gotta keep that streak going!

Owen, Martins, Beye, Chopra, Owen

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exileonwearside
18/04/2008 23:23

all being well, a hard fought two nil.

but i have doubts about the temperament of both barton (duh!) and in this match in particular taylor. both are very eager to please, and this could be exploited if keane has done his homework. i can see taylor cutting jones in two if he is targeted for winding up, and am genuinely worried that he could be sent off. remember the picture of keane when he totally lost it at st james, and got sent off trying to lamp big al? thats the scenario i'm thinking about, and can easily see it being tried out because we have the edge on them if its an open game

an early goal to settle us, another by half time and its easy street. somehow i dont see it being THAT easy though

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exileonwearside
19/04/2008 02:10

'Sunderland could match Newcastle on points (and go above them on goal difference) should they win convincingly on Sunday'


actually, a one nil defeat will see us go below sunderland in the league table

motivation enough

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i!
19/04/2008 12:06

3-0


Get regular updates from one of TyneTalk's mintest posters, follow: [www.twitter.com] @adameverett92

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ste_ne24
19/04/2008 12:23

3-1 also i think.. might put a bet on.. geremi first goal from free kick

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MissC
19/04/2008 18:06

Go for it

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exileonwearside
19/04/2008 19:43

i was after the odds for both owen and martins to score, but when i saw you only get a measly 22-1 for both of them AND viduka to score it didnt seem worth it. does this mean each of them is on average less than 3-1 to score? thats total rubbish like

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CNDShearerFan16
20/04/2008 13:39

Wee Mikey! 1-0!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:20:13:39:52 by CNDShearerFan16.

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CNDShearerFan16
20/04/2008 13:42

Everyone at the game?

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CNDShearerFan16
20/04/2008 14:21

Wee Mikey again! (he says to hisself!) 2-0!

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Andy_SAFC
20/04/2008 14:28

enjoy your 3 points, we're hopeless.

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CNDShearerFan16
20/04/2008 14:37

Quote:

Andy™
enjoy your 3 points, we're hopeless.

Tis true but at least you'll avoid the drop and live to fight another season.

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cappen
20/04/2008 14:48

First goal - great header from Owen.

Penalty was lucky - Gordon got a hand to it but couldnt keep it out.

Owen for a hattrick..

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ColoradoMagpie
20/04/2008 14:48

Real missed opportunity 2 minutes into the 2nd....Pile it on!

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ColoradoMagpie
20/04/2008 14:58

First 15 of the 2nd dominated by the @#$%&. They've come out with a lot of energy that we HAVE to match. It's not over yet, boys!

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CNDShearerFan16
20/04/2008 15:05

Taking the second half off are we?

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ColoradoMagpie
20/04/2008 15:08

Martins 1 on 1 with keeper and drills him in the chest....arrrrggghhh. He didn't do enough with that.


Then other end spectacular save by Harper.

Wonder if this is why he's off for Duff or if its just time to change formations

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cappen
20/04/2008 15:08

Nice save Gordon denying Martins but whatever Gordon can do, Harper can do better!! Nice one Stevie.

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CNDShearerFan16
20/04/2008 15:10

Quote:

ColoradoMagpie
Martins 1 on 1 with keeper and drills him in the chest....arrrrggghhh. He didn't do enough with that.

Then other end spectacular save by Harper.

Wonder if this is why he's off for Duff or if its just time to change formations

I blame his miss on the fact that I put him in for my pool for the last few games. Shoulda left well enough alone.

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cappen
20/04/2008 15:10

Crowd is subdued - we need to get them back into in...louder..louder.

Ha'way the lads!

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ColoradoMagpie
20/04/2008 15:13

What a b f'ing s call to give a kick there! Good thing they wasted the chance.

I love seeing Carroll get a chance on now!

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cappen
20/04/2008 15:15

Carroll on for Viduka and Chopra on Sunderland

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ColoradoMagpie
20/04/2008 15:24

No question of when Chopra gets the ball. not his fault he's got to play with them.

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cappen
20/04/2008 15:29

...gannin along the Scotswood Roooooooad to see the Blaydon Races...

Got the crowd going now......

Technically safe...bring on next season....KK.

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Gallowgate Luke
20/04/2008 15:35

2-0 awesome

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ColoradoMagpie
20/04/2008 15:35

Yep, mathematically safe, but now we need another 3 points to keep from having our lowest point total ever. Should be no problem as we'll sweep the last games!

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