NEWCASTLE v MIDDLESBROUGH - A ST JAMES’ STALEMATE AS SECOND COMING TURNS SOUR?
The messiah’s return has not gone completely to script, such was the hype on Tyneside surrounding King Kev’s second coming that you would have thought that anything was possible this season. An FA Cup win? No problem. Champions League qualification? Why not? Well after just 3 matches in charge things aren’t looking so rosy for Special K’s Newcastle as reality has begun to finally set in.
The high scoring, gung ho attacking football produced by Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle side in the 90s has yet to materialise so far in his 2nd spell in charge. In fact, after 3 matches the Magpies have yet to score, that’s right, the man who created a Newcastle team dubbed ‘the entertainers’ in his first reign has not seen a goal yet in 4 hours and 30 minutes! In fact, goal scoring has been a problem for the Magpies for a while now despite a strike force boasting the talents of Owen, Viduka, Martins, Smith and Ameobi. Newcastle have failed to score in 6 of the last 7 matches in all competitions, the only side they’ve managed to actually score against in 2008 is Championship side Stoke.
It is now 7 games since Newcastle last won a match and confidence is unsurprisingly low, 2 points from the last 21 available is relegation form and only 7 points separate the Magpies from the drop zone. There are just 2 points between them and this weekends opponents Middlesbrough whose own form has slowly been improving in recent weeks.
Boro’s 1-0 home League win over Wigan lifted them to the dizzy heights of 13th on Tuesday night and has given Gareth Southgate’s chances of remaining in the Boro hot-seat a much needed boost. They are now unbeaten in their last 3 Premier League matches and look set to conclude the record signing of Brazilian hitman Afonso Alves in time for this match if his medical and work permit application is passed satisfactorily. They may well also sign Inter Milan’s young forward Goran Slavkovski on loan before the deadline passes.
The signing of a proven striker could be the key to Boro’s survival bid. They currently have the 2nd worst scoring record in the division behind bottom side Derby. The return to fatness, erm I mean fitness of Egyptian target man Mido will also be a huge boost as prior to substitute appearances in the last 2 games he had missed 3 months of the season.
The sale of Jonathan Woodgate should not overly affect the side as he’s not featured in the last 5 games in all competitions and Boro have been unbeaten in that time. This match has draw written all over it as 5 of the last 7 matches between these North-East clubs have been drawn including the last 3 games at St James’. So back the points to be shared on Premier 10 as King Kev’s search for a first win looks set to continue.
Pundit’s Pick: Another St James’ stalemate (draw)
Tags: 02/02/08, Boro, Magpies, Middlesbrough, Newcastle
