Source: Northern_Echo
Bad memories a real spur for Lovenkrands
PETER LOVENKRANDS is haunted by memories of playing in a team who lost the league title after being streets ahead of their nearest rivals.[LNB] The Newcastle United forward has scored in his last two games and hopes to continue his strike partnership with Marlon Harewood at Coventry City this evening.[LNB] He admits that the Magpies commanding lead over their promotion rivals leads him to believe that the Championship title is ours to lose.[LNB] But the Dane has warned his team-mates against showing any signs of complacency, recalling the season when he was part of an FC Schalke team who threw away their bid for the German Bundesliga title after they'd held a 12- point lead.[LNB] Lovenkrands is expected to be in the starting line-up at the Ricoh Arena when Newcastle will attempt to further distance themselves from the division's chasing pack.[LNB] I don't want to count my chickens before they have hatched. I'm not taking anything for granted because those sorts of memories stick with you and I hope the boys aren't either, said the 29-yearold, who was twice a Scottish Premier League winner with Rangers.[LNB] You have to keep focused on the games that are coming up. We were 12 points clear at Schalke with a couple of months to go and we lost the title.[LNB] It was a terrible time to do that, particularly as they hadn't won a league title in ages (since 1958). I definitely don't want to be in that sort of situation again.[LNB] It doesn't get much better for a footballer when you're back in the starting line up and scoring goals. It's two in two now and I'm back playing as a central striker so it's positive stuff. I'm really pleased with it at the moment.[LNB] It's been a tough season for me. I missed pre-season and it's such an important part of the season to miss. I was fit in terms of being able to run, but I was nowhere near match fit.[LNB] You need to get the sharpness in your game through proper training and matches and I didn't have that when I re-signed (for Newcastle) because I didn't know what was going to happen in the summer.[LNB] It was an unusual situation to be in, but I've dealt with it.[LNB] Kevin Nolan serves a onematch suspension tonight after being sent-off last Saturday but Lovenkrands believes that Chris Hughton can call on the services of a special player to replace the Magpies leading scorer.[LNB] Kevin has been one of our best players. It's a shame but it's only one game and hopefully he will be back soon,[LNB] said Lovenkrands.[LNB] It's tough not to have him because he has weighed in with a lot of goals. But we have players who can take over, there is Nicky Butt who is just a special player and I'm sure he will come in and do well if he gets the chance.[LNB] If Newcastle can register a seventh successive victory they will pile pressure on Coventry boss Chris Coleman whose side have won only one of their last twelve games.[LNB] Veteran full-back Marcus Hall looks likely to miss the match after he aggravated a calf problem during Sunday's defeat against Scunthorpe.[LNB] NEWCASTLE (probable): Harper; Simpson, Coloccini, S Taylor, Enrique; Guthrie, Butt, Smith, Gutierrez; Lovenkrands, Harewood.[LNB]
