Cardiff 0-2 Newcastle (Div 2, Oct 83) This was the last time I saw Newcastle play. If my memory serves me well, a Kevin Keegan header and a stunner from Peter Beardsley saw us off that night. Newcastle were on the up, and we were going nowhere, and Ninian Park was drab, wet and half empty. Our last five results against The Loony Toons show that we are in for a tough game, and I think a draw would be a welcome result, and another point to the tally. Could scrape a 1-0 win though, and take points off our competition! Premier League | Cardiff City Stadium | Sat 5 Oct | 3pm Billed as The game before Joe Kinnear takes over! OK, so Alan Partridge's position as Newcastle manager might not be quite that precarious yet, but the club’s fans have every right to be worried. Following back to back 3-2 defeats, first at home to Hull and then away to Everton, the Magpies’ early season form reflects a summer of comedy pronouncements from Joe Kinnear – remember Yohan Kebab? – and lethargy in the transfer market. Both served to undermine the manager before a ball had been kicked. It’s of little surprise, then, that Alan Pardew’s side have endured an erratic start to the season, with those defeats preceded by wins over Fulham at home and, more impressively, Aston Villa away. CARDIFF FORM Fulham 1-2 Cardiff (Prem) West Ham 3-2 Cardiff (LC) Cardiff 0-1 Spurs (Prem) Hull 1-1 Cardiff (Prem) Cardiff 0-0 Everton (Prem) NEWCASTLE FORM Everton 3-2 Newcastle (Prem) Newcastle 2-0 Leeds (LC) Newcastle 2-3 Hull (Prem) Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle (Prem) Newcastle 1-0 Fulham (Prem) Having conceded 11 goals so far – only North East rivals Sunderland have a worse defensive record in the Premier League – the team’s main deficiency is obvious. While it’s easy to point the finger at the defence, particularly full-backs Davide Santon and Mathieu Debuchy, the back four often been exposed by a lack of cover from midfield, particularly from Cheick Tiote. If Newcastle can remedy this while cutting out individual errors – they’ve made a league high six mistakes resulting in a scoring chance for the opposition – they may be able to repeat their away day performance and victory against Villa. Cardiff will be looking to continue their impressive start to life in the Premier League. Having dispatched Fulham last week with a last minute goal from Jordon Mutch, Malky Mackay says his side have what it takes to compete at this level. It's hard to argue with this considering their early season form and the consistent attacking threat of Peter Whittingham’s set-pieces. At the back, David Marshall has proved to be an imposing and athletic last line of defence, while Gary Medel has been quietly efficient in midfield. Up front, Peter Odemwingie appears to have rediscovered the energy and trickery he first displayed at West Brom. Having only lost three of their 26 homes games in the league since the start of last season, The Bluebirds will be confident of maintaining this run. Team news Striker Andreas Cornelius could return for Cardiff following an ankle injury picked up against Accrington Stanley in the League Cup in August. For Newcastle, Jonas Gutierrez, Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi, could return to the squad subject to fitness tests, while Yohan Cabaye should start following a groin injury that limited the Frenchman to 45 minutes against Everton. Key battle: Gary Medel vs Yohan Cabaye The key to this contest could be whether the Pitbull can effectively muzzle Yohan Cabaye. After coming on for the second half against Everton, the French midfielder scored after just six minutes and was central (quite literally) to a second half comeback that almost saw the Magpies snatch an unlikely point. As well as scoring, he had two blocked shots, as well as recovering the ball high up the pitch to set up attacks. Against Fulham, Medel snarled and snapped his way to five successful tackles, recovering the ball 12 times. A repeat performance could set the platform for a home win. LAST FIVE MEETINGS Newcastle 5-1 Cardiff (Ch, Feb 10) Cardiff 0-1 Newcastle (Ch, Sep 09) Newcastle 3-1 Cardiff (Div 2, Feb 84) Cardiff 0-2 Newcastle (Div 2, Oct 83) Newcastle 2-1 Cardiff (Div 2, Feb 82) The managers Malky Mackay goes from heaping pressure on one under fire manager last week (Martin Jol), hoping to repeat the trick on Saturday. If the rumour mill is to be believed – and as we all know, that’s a big if – Alan Pardew handed in his resignation following the defeat to Everton only for it to be rejected by owner Mike Ashley. Whether there are any truth to the whispers it’s unclear, what’s certain is that the Newcastle manager is in a precarious place: flanked by a talented but underperforming team and an unpredictable director of football and owner. Lose and who knows what will happen. Facts and figures No side have seen more goals scored in the 90th minute or later of their Premier League games this season than Cardiff (3). Newcastle have won their last six successive meetings with Cardiff in all competitions. The Magpies have conceded a league-high three headed goals in the Premier League this season so far. Loïc Remy has now been involved in four goals in four Premier League appearances for Newcastle (scored three and assisted another). Newcastle have won just three of their last 23 Premier League away games, losing 13 of these matches. Cardiff have lost just three of their 26 home games in league competition since the start of 2012/13 (W16, D7). The Welsh side have committed only 50 fouls in their six Premier League games so far; a league-low figure. Papiss Demba Cisse has now gone 12 successive Premier League appearances without a goal for Newcastle. Should he score against his former side, Craig Bellamy will become the first player in the history of the Premier League to score for seven different clubs in the competition. Newcastle have made six errors that have led to an opposition attempt at goal in the Premier League this season; more than any other side.
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay faces a big call in tomorrow’s clash with Newcastle in the Welsh capital – to unleash Craig Bellamy against his former club or not. The Bluebirds boss dropped the frontman to the bench at Fulham last weekend and replaced him with Peter Odemwingie as Cardiff secured an excellent first Premier League win on the road. Aside from missing the draw at Hull last month through injury, Bellamy had started every Premier League game for the Bluebirds up until Craven Cottage. The frontman proved a hero last season as he helped his hometown club to the Championship title, but now, aged 34, question marks lie over his real role with the Bluebirds in the Premier League. As he reaches the twilight of a career which has seen its fare share of injuries can Bellamy hack it week-in week-out or will he need to be employed more sparingly as an impact player from the bench? The frontman looks poised to call time on his distinguished international career with Wales this month after linking up with Chris Coleman for the Dragons’ final two World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium. At club level the arrival of Odemwingie for £2m on transfer deadline day from West Brom gives Mackay another option in the position most often occupied by Bellamy. But as he decides whether to start Bellamy tomorrow against the club he spent four season’s playing for, Mackay insists the veteran still has a vital role to play for the Bluebirds this campaign. “It was just to have a little bit of fresh impetus at Fulham,” said Mackay. “Craig is a massive part of everything we are doing here. He’s one of my main men. He’s one of the main leaders in the dressing room. “But it’s about the squad. It’s about making sure we’ve got the right players out there and that we are making the right changes at the right time. “That’s something I’ve done here for the last two years. People come in based on form and just the feeling they can do something that week. “Bringing Odemwingie in was right. He looked very dangerous in that position for us.” As he prepares to face a Newcastle side left reeling following two Premier League defeats on the bounce at the hands of Hull and Everton, Mackay outlined the importance of utilising all of his squad this season. Aside from the Bellamy and Odemwingie question, young midfielder Jordon Mutch also sent a strong message to his manager as he fired a spectacular added-time winner at Fulham to secure the 2-1 win. The Cardiff boss believes it will be a case of adapt or perish this season for him and his side. “If you don’t adapt every week then you are going to get dreadfully punished,” said Mackay. “You’ve got top players with top technique and movement at this level. If you don’t tactically get it right you can be beaten very heavily. “We are very conscious of that. Every week we have opposition analysis and it is huge in terms of looking at the last two or three teams they have played, the last two or three shapes they have played. We analyse areas they can expose you, areas you hope you can expose them as well as substitutes they have who can come on and change the game. “Then it is a matter of me and my staff communicating that to the players over the course of the week.” Newcastle arrive in Cardiff with the pressure very much mounting on boss Alan Pardew. After a reasonable start to the season the last two defeats have set alarm bells ringing at St James Park. The fact that six goals have been shipped in those two encounters looks likely to prompt Pardew into changes to his side to face Cardiff. After a more spirited second-half display against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night Pardew is expected to bring centre-half Mike Williamson into his starting line-up tomorrow. Hatem Ben Arfa could be dropped to the bench as Newcastle look to a more defensive line-up to stop them conceding Pardew himself has taken heart from that second-half display at Goodsion Park which saw the Magpies battle back for a 3-2 defeat after being behind 3-0 at the interval. Pardew commented: “Fortunately there are a few players who have played their way into the team in the second half at Everton. “We showed some pride and that we have got good players at this club. We have to make sure we put a team out that gets us a result at Cardiff.” In contrast Mackay and his men go into tomorrow’s clash full of confidence after an excellent start to their first Premier League campaign. A shock win at home to Manchester City was followed up at home with a good 0-0 draw against Everton. Then came a strong showing against Tottenham last time out in the Welsh capital, when only a late Spurs goal denied the Bluebirds a point. As they return to perform in front of their own supporters once more tomorrow Mackay believes that home form and the manner of last weekend’s last gasp away win will have done his players the power of good. “The victory at Fulham has settled the players down and given them belief,” added Mackay. “We’d been on the receiving end of a late winner ourselves the week before so I knew what (Fulham boss) Martin Jol was going through. It was a very good time for us to score, but we deserved it overall. “Alan will have had a few harsh words for his players after Everton and we are very much going to need to be on our toes.”
My first Newcastle game was in 78-79 in the old div 2. I recall Gary Stevens scoring a belter; almost Rooneyesque. City are due a win versus the Toon after being unlucky a few seasons ago. Recall Gavin Rae blazing over from 10 yards near the end, and an ineffective performance from Solomon Taiwo.
Stream I was using kept crashing but 1st half we got our arses kicked, sounds better second half thus far.
Not good enough. Totally out-played in the first half, defense were getting cut to pieces, midfield were slow, poor ball forward to Campbell. Didn't deserve to get anything with that performance.
Thought we started too slow, no snap. Gunnarsson poor game, Newcastle would have scored a few more but for Marshall heroics. Much work to be done!
Too many bad performances in the 1st half. Gunnarsson, Whitts, Kim (muscled out too many times) & Turner.
A shocker. If Mutch had of equalized near the end, it would have been robbery. We probably should have lost that game 4-1. I am not Malky bashing here, but I just don't think this defensive outlook will get us through the whole season. It invites too much pressure on our back line. Sunderland had a real crack at United, and I would love have seen us be far more aggressive in the first half. We are crying out for pace and creativity. Yes, we had a lot of possession in the second half, but we never looked like ripping open Newcastle. Again Marshall get us in the game, and Medel looked a class above the rest of our team. I wonder how he is feeling about the move at the moment? If we continue to play this style of football (which is absolutely boring to watch) we will struggle to get results. Newcastle played well, but we let them.
I thought Medel was unusually sloppy in possession. I mentioned on the prediction thread I thought we had a very tough afternoon coming our way. Newcastles results have been deceptive. Yes they lost to Hull at home, so there seemed to be an assumption they're **** and we'd play them off the park. Pardew had to get a result and his team played that way. They were quicker to every loose ball. Cabaye is a genuinely world class player. He's a diving cheating twat, but he's class. We didn't handle him and Remy is a different class to our attacking options. there was one bright spark and that was the performance of Mutch who was outstanding when he was introduced. I think MM has a problem with Witts. He's the player most likely to provide an assist in our side but his all round game isn't so influential that he should be assured of 90mins every match. I'd have liked to see noone come on for him rather than swaping Maynard for Odem. Newcastle finished 5th 2 seasons ago. Remy is a better player than Ba, who is the only key member of that squad they've lost. They've added other top class players since then, I know their form has been poor but they're well in front of us squad wise and will expect to finish well above us. There will be more a lot more weekends like that this season, we just need to find about 32 more points when the chances arise.
Stevoldinho, I felt Medel was still putting the ball into reasonable spaces but our players were not reacting. I don't remember seeing him pass it off straight to the opposition like most of our team did. Still, I agree it wasn't his best game, and my comment about him being a class above probably just refers to how bad everybody else looked.
Got to agree with Steve about Medel's sloppy passing first half. He gave it away 8 or 9 times. A lot to do with their pressing approach and our lack of movement around Medel. Improved tremendously when Mutch came on as he dropped deep to give options and had the power and pace to turn and move forward. Newcastle had clearly done their homework and closed us down quickly the whole game. They were physically much stronger in many areas. In saying that Mutch changed gthe game and we could have sneaked a draw.
Frazer needed somebody to knock the ball to him, was too much to ask him to be basically a target man. He would get the ball and lose it all in one fell swoop, better to have him running onto them balls. Newcastle were never going to be easy after they got some belief back from the second half against Everton. We have to fight harder for every ball if we are going to keep a decent show going, we cant play 45 mins like we did yesterday and hope to get something at this level.
