STOKE v NEWCASTLE - NEWCASTLE’S POTTERIES TRIP LEAVES BIG SAM IN PIECES?
This is the last match poor Sam Allardyce needs at the moment with mounting pressure building on him on Tyneside. The Toon have now seen their post Christmas celebrations dampened by 3 successive defeats and they now face a lively Stoke side sitting 4th in the Championship.
Big Sam’s side have won just 2 of their last 12 matches, a run that includes 7 defeats. Their away record does not bode well for this trip with just 1 win in their last 10 away trips (7 defeats). This is Newcastle’s last chance for silverware this season but expect the dust and spiderwebs to continue to build in the trophy cabinet as the Toon could be making an early exit from this year’s competition. It is now 39 years since the club won any major silverware and the trophy room door can be left locked for another season as this side does not look capable of changing that barren run.
Tony Pullis’ Stoke side are a team on form after going 10 games unbeaten. They have not lost at the Britannia Stadium since early November and are scoring goals for fun. The Potters have scored 20 goals in their last 8 games and will test Newcastle’s poor defensive unit to the full. They boast the 3rd top scorer in the Championship in the large shape of Jamaican Ricardo Fuller as well as a variety of 6 foot plus forwards such as Mamady Sidibe, Jon Parkin and Vincent Pericard so the Newcastle defence can expect a lot of heading practice come the weekend.
Stoke have never beaten Newcastle in a cup match in their history, their most recent confrontation was a 4-0 home League Cup defeat in October 1995. However, this is a very different Potters side so back them to rewrite history and to inflict an FA Cup giant-killing on poor old Big Sam’s Newcastle on Premier 10 this weekend.
Pundit’s Pick: Potters pile on misery for Big Sam (home win)
Tags: 06/01/08, Big Sam, Newcastle, Potters, Sam Allardyce, Stoke, Toon
