Source: Northern_Echo
Magpies risk Tiote receiving extra ban
NEWCASTLE will learn the verdict of their appeal against Cheik Tiote's red card today, but have been warned by sources close to the Football Association that their chances of success are slim.[LNB] Club officials announced yesterday that they had contested Tiote's red card earned during the 3-1 defeat to Stevenage after his two-footed challenge on Jon Ashton just 12 minutes after his introduction at Broadhall Way.[LNB] But it is believed that, unless the Magpies can prove that referee Andre Marriner was clearly mistaken in sending off Tiote, they stand little chance of being successful and run the risk of gaining an extra game on top of the mandatory three match-ban for a frivolous' appeal.[LNB] As it stands, Tiote will miss the Wear-Tyne derby on Sunday, as well as games against Tottenham and Fulham.[LNB] Tiote's ban has forced Alan Pardew to step up his hunt for new personnel ahead of Sunday's game, and was yesterday given permission to speak to Birmingham City winger Sebastian Larsson.[LNB] The former Arsenal man operates down the right flank and is an expert in free-kick situations. It is believed that Newcastle can wrap up a deal for the Sweden international in time for the Wear-Tyne derby, after the Blues made inroads into signing David Bentley from Tottenham.[LNB] Meanwhile, skipper Kevin Nolan has warned his teammates to be wary of Sunderland's wounded animals' as the Black Cats seek to avenge their 5-1 mauling.[LNB] Nolan, who scored a hattrick during the Magpies' win at St James' Park in October, paid tribute to Sunderland's recovery since and warned against a backlash.[LNB] He said: The derby is going to be a classic. Obviously, they are a wounded animal after what happened here but it is up to us to go there and make sure we put in another professional performance.[LNB] Hopefully if we do that, our gameplan goes to plan.[LNB] Both clubs go into the derby on the back of exits from the FA Cup, but Nolan is satisfied with Newcastle's league form, which sees them in the top half of the Premier League.[LNB] He said: We have got to be happy the way we have come into the Premier League.[LNB] There is one thing I can say and it's that the fans have been absolutely fantastic over the last year. They were great in the Championship and are now getting what they fully deserve and that is a team who absolutely want to play for that black and white shirt and do the best they can every week and that is what they deserve more than anything.[LNB] With Sunderland sixth and Newcastle eighth, the two teams go into Sunday's showdown in their highest comparative positions ahead of a derby since the start of the Premier League.[LNB] But Nolan warned: It is nice to be going into a derby with both teams going well.[LNB] We want healthy competition in our region and the fact is Sunderland have a fantastic chance of Europe Steve Bruce has done a great job there.[LNB] But we are a team that has just come up, and we cannot allow ourselves to get carried away about what we have done this year.[LNB] Our first target has got to be to make sure we are safe from relegation.[LNB]
