Source: FOOTYMAD
Injury Situation Is Bad - But It Could Be Worse
Although the season is almost at an end, Alan Pardew faces mounting injury problems for the last three games. But is it a bad thing? Is it the time to blood the youngsters? Mike Williamson, Ben Arfa and James Perch (pictured below) are the latest out of competitive action. With Dan Gosling still not showing any sign of featuring for the first time following his free transfer from Everton last summer and Leon Best, Alan Smith and Danny Guthrie also still sidelined, Newcastle’s small squad looks dangerously light. But perhaps we can look on the bright side ... we are safe and the injury situation would be a lot worse if we needed four or five points from the remaining three games. Mike Pardew: “Mike was doing a pull-up that went wrong and broke the bone in the top of his arm. He didn’t look too clever and he’s broken it. “There’s nothing untoward like messing around in the gym, he was being supervised in the pull-ups so it’s just really a freak accident and he’s so unlucky. “Coming in as a centre-half in the Premier League, you get asked a lot of different questions, be that by a 6ft 7in (Nikola) Žigic or a 5ft 10 bundle of muscle like Wayne Rooney with technical ability. “He’s had to deal with that and has done very well. Steven Taylor, who signed a new contract when I arrived here, who I have got good belief in, he’s kept him out of the team so I’ve got nothing but praise for him. “It’s unfortunate we’ve not got him for the last three games but he can pat himself on the back. He can rest assured he’s had a good season. “As for Ben Arfa, we’d hoped to see him in action in these last few games, but we think that’s probably not going to happen now. He’s had a little setback. That’s what happens when you come back from that sort of injury.” REMAINING PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Saturday 07th May 2011 Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic 15:00 Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland 15:00 Everton v Manchester City 15:00 Newcastle United v Birmingham City 15:00 West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Blackpool 17:30 Sunday 08th May 2011 Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion 12:00 Stoke City v Arsenal 14:05 Manchester United v Chelsea 16:10 Monday 09th May 2011 Fulham v Liverpool 20:00 Tuesday 10th May 2011 Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 19:45 Saturday 14th May 2011 Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United 12:45 Blackpool v Bolton Wanderers 12:45 Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers 12:45 West Bromwich Albion v Everton 12:45 Manchester City v Stoke City 15:00 Sunday 15th May 2011 Chelsea v Newcastle United 13:30 Arsenal v Aston Villa 16:00 Birmingham City v Fulham 16:00 Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur 16:00 Wigan Athletic v West Ham United 16:00 Tuesday 17th May 2011 Manchester City v Stoke City 19:45 Sunday 22nd May 2011 Aston Villa v Liverpool 16:00 Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City 16:00 Everton v Chelsea 16:00 Fulham v Arsenal 16:00 Manchester United v Blackpool 16:00 Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion 16:00 Stoke City v Wigan Athletic 16:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City 16:00 West Ham United v Sunderland 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers 16:00 MAGPIES IN EUROPE "Magpies In Europe" is available NOW! Sports Journalist Richie Everson: "At last a book that the fabulous Newcastle United fans can relate to. It's informative, all the facts and figures are there, plus the 120 match reports from all the fixtures ... but it is the articles by the supporters that amazed me. "I went to many of those games, and this is the only book I can honestly say 'hits the nail on the head'! "Yes we know the results and the scorers, but some of the facts in this book had me so wrapped up in it I couldn't put it down. "Was Benny Arentoft cup-tied when he played in the final? Big Wyn and his battle with John McGrath; McFaul scoring a penalty when the crowd had gone home; the trouble in Palermo; it is all amazing stuff. "I would honestly give this book 10 out of 10." MAGPIES IN EUROPE From Antwerp to Zurich Price: £9.99 (including post) The book is available NOW! Please include your address in a letter and send a cheque (or postal order) for £9.99 payable to Mr K Fletcher, to: 'MAGPIES IN EUROPE', K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Co Durham DH7 6NU. Or contact: Kevnumad@fsmail.net The last time Birmigham came to St James' Park ... 2007/8 Newcastle 2 Birmingham 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given, Beye, Taylor, Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Milner, Barton, Butt (Viduka 31), Geremi (Emre 72), Martins (Jose Enrique 90), Smith.Subs Not Used: Harper, Edgar. BIRMINGHAM CITY: Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Sadler, De Ridder (Forssell 76), Larsson, Nafti, Muamba, McSheffrey (Kapo 62), Jerome.Subs Not Used: Doyle, O'Connor, Parnaby. Att: 49,948 Habib Beye chose the perfect moment to claim his first Newcastle goal as the Magpies struck at the death to end their seven-game wait for a Barclays Premier League win. The Senegal international headed substitute Emre's 90th-minute corner past Maik Taylor to snatch all three points as the Magpies completed a gritty fightback. Cameron Jerome had given the visitors a shock lead when he made the most of yet more schoolboy defending from the Magpies to round Shay Given and score with just nine minutes gone. Sam Allardyce's men took their time to get going, but they levelled on 36 minutes when Obafemi Martins converted a penalty after being tripped by Mathew Sadler. James Milner rattled the crossbar four minutes before the break as Newcastle threatened to overwhelm the visitors. However, Taylor twice saved from Martins, the second six minutes from time, and once from Milner, and the home side had to wait until the dying seconds to take all three points. The win will have come as a huge relief to Allardyce, whose side had not won since they beat Tottenham on October 22, and to the bulk of a crowd of 49,948 on a bitter afternoon on Tyneside. Having halted their recent slide with a more than creditable draw with league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday evening, the Magpies ran out determined to build upon that platform. The did so knowing they would face a different challenge to the one presented by Arsene Wenger's technically adept outfit with City setting up in a 4-5-1 formation in an attempt to tie down the game in midfield. But barely before they had broken sweat, they found themselves trailing once again, and where it had been the brilliance of Emmanuel Adebayor which had hurt them in midweek, this time it was their own defensive inadequacies which did the damage. Defender Rafael Schmitz's long ball forward was little more than hopeful, but David Rozehnal allowed Jerome to outstrip him before rounding keeper Given and shooting into the empty net. The hosts were unfortunate not to be back on terms on 27 minutes when Martins met Charles N'Zogbia's dipping free-kick just two yards out, but saw Taylor pull off a fine reaction save. Nicky Butt's departure through injury 14 minutes before the break brought Mark Viduka on to the field, and his side finally broke through five minutes later. Martins set off to chase a loose ball inside the penalty area and was tripped by the prone Mathew Sadler, and referee Rob Styles pointed straight to the spot. The Nigeria international stroked the ball low to Taylor's left, and although the keeper got a hand to it, it went in off the post to level the scores. Jerome saw a shot on the turn saved by Given on 39 minutes as City briefly rallied, but it was the Magpies who finished the half with the wind in their sails. Taylor had to tip a close range Milner effort over the bar in the 41st minute - but the goalkeeper needed the assistance of the woodwork seconds later when the England Under-21 international shot from 20 yards. Midfielder Fabrice Muamba drilled a right-foot shot just over from 25 yards and then Sebastian Larsson fired just wide after being set up by Jerome. Given had to save smartly at his near post from Liam Ridgewell as he flicked Larsson's corner towards goal, before Milner whistled a right-foot shot across goal in the 56th minute. Newcastle were belatedly starting to find their feet once again with Martins troubling the City defence with his pace, although no-one was able to take advantage of N'Zogbia's inviting 66th-minute cross. Alan Smith fired wide from a tight angle on 71 minutes and with Emre joining the fray as a replacement for Geremi seconds later, the Magpies launched their final push. Viduka headed well wide from an N'Zogbia free-kick eight minutes later and Martins forced a save from Taylor two minutes later - but the drama came at the death. Emre saw strong appeals for a second penalty for handball by Larsson waved away a minute from time, but regained his composure to curl a corner to the near post for Beye to score. TOON v BRUM - THE HISTORY ... 2010/2011 Tue 15 Feb Birmingham C. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premier League 2007/2008 Mon 17 Mar Birmingham C. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League Sat 08 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham C. Premier League 2006/2007 Wed 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 5 Birmingham C. F.A. Cup Sat 06 Jan Birmingham C. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup 2005/2006 Sat 29 Apr Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership Sat 05 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. Premiership 2004/2005 Sat 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham C. Premiership Sun 03 Oct Birmingham C. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership 2003/2004 Sat 31 Jan Birmingham C. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership Sat 30 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Birmingham C. Premiership 2002/2003 Sat 03 May Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. Premiership Sat 28 Sep Birmingham C. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership 2000/2001 Wed 29 Nov Birmingham C. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. League Cup 1999/2000 Tue 12 Oct Birmingham C. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. League Cup 1992/1993 Sun 28 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. League Division One Wed 04 Nov Birmingham C. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. League Division One 1985/1986 Sat 12 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 09 Nov Birmingham C. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1979/1980 Wed 20 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Birmingham C. Second Division Sat 29 Sep Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1977/1978 Wed 15 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 17 Sep Birmingham C. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1976/1977 Sat 02 Apr Birmingham C. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 23 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division 1975/1976 Wed 07 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Tue 23 Sep Birmingham C. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1974/1975 Sat 26 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 19 Oct Birmingham C. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1973/1974 Sat 20 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 08 Dec Birmingham C. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 07 Nov Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Birmingham C. League Cup Tue 30 Oct Birmingham C. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. League Cup 1972/1973 Sat 11 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Tue 15 Aug Birmingham C. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1960/1961 Mon 26 Dec Birmingham C. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 24 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division 1959/1960 Wed 02 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Wed 26 Aug Birmingham C. 4 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1958/1959 Wed 29 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 15 Nov Birmingham C. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1957/1958 Sat 11 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 07 Sep Birmingham C. 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1956/1957 Tue 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division Wed 05 Sep Birmingham C. 6 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1955/1956 Wed 31 Aug Birmingham C. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 24 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division 1949/1950 Sat 01 Apr Birmingham C. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 12 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division 1948/1949 Mon 27 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 25 Dec Birmingham C. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1947/1948 Wed 17 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. Second Division Wed 10 Sep Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1946/1947 Mon 07 Apr Birmingham C. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Fri 04 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. Second Division 1933/1934 Sat 03 Feb Birmingham 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 23 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1932/1933 Tue 27 Dec Birmingham 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Mon 26 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham First Division 1931/1932 Sat 07 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 Birmingham First Division Wed 02 Sep Birmingham 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1930/1931 Wed 17 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham First Division Wed 10 Sep Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1929/1930 Wed 02 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham First Division Sat 21 Sep Birmingham 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1928/1929 Sat 30 Mar Birmingham 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 17 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1927/1928 Tue 10 Apr Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Mon 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham First Division 1926/1927 Sat 09 Apr Birmingham 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 20 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Birmingham First Division 1925/1926 Sat 13 Mar Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 31 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Birmingham First Division 1924/1925 Sat 28 Mar Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 22 Nov Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1923/1924 Wed 09 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham First Division Sat 05 Apr Birmingham 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1922/1923 Wed 06 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Birmingham First Division Mon 28 Aug Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1921/1922 Wed 08 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Birmingham First Division Sat 21 Jan Birmingham 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1907/1908 Sat 21 Mar Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 23 Nov Newcastle Utd. 8 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1906/1907 Sat 05 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Birmingham First Division Sat 08 Sep Birmingham 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1905/1906 Wed 14 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Birmingham F.A. Cup Sat 10 Mar Birmingham 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup Sat 06 Jan Birmingham 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 09 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham First Division 1904/1905 Sat 21 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Small Heath First Division Sat 24 Sep Small Heath 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1903/1904 Sat 09 Jan Small Heath 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Small Heath First Division 1901/1902 Sat 01 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Small Heath First Division Sat 05 Oct Small Heath 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1897/1898 Tue 12 Apr Small Heath 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Sat 27 Nov Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Small Heath Second Division 1896/1897 Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 3 Small Heath Second Division Sat 05 Sep Small Heath 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1893/1894 Sat 16 Dec Small Heath 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Sat 28 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Small Heath Second Division
