Wolves vs. Newcastle United - Match Preview

By Matt Holmes / October 1, 2011

(P.S. €“ I am a Newcastle United fan, so as always my match previews are bias and for the like minded); Having ended a run of five Blackburn victories in a row at St James' Park, Alan Pardew's Newcastle go into today's 3pm Premier League tie against Mick McCarthy's Wolves at Molineux hoping to put an end to another unwanted hoodoo. Newcastle haven't won on this ground since September 1958 (15 top flight attempts) and more often that not have found the Molineux a tough ground to take anything away from. In last seasons 1-1 draw, Newcastle had to survive a barrage of military style assault challenges from the likes of Karl Henry (mostly aimed at his enemy Joey Barton!) to make it out alive after 90 minutes, let alone with any points but with the Scouser now enjoying life in London, perhaps we could be in something of a quieter affair this afternoon. A season record of 12 yellow cards were shown last year and it was a miracle nobody was sent off. Pardew's men have started the season far better than anyone could have imagined. They are unbeaten after seven games and will be hoping to extend that stat into the second International break of the season. This is Newcastle's best run of games since the nine Premier League unbeaten run between December 2002 and March 2003, and if a defeat is avoided today, it's the best start to a campaign since the 1994 season. Team News New signing Davide Santon played 90 minutes for the reserves this week as he looks to recover fitness and could make his debut today at left back with Ryan Taylor looking increasingly uncomfortable in that make-shift role. Though with Wolves expected to play exactly like they did last year Pardew will probably decide to give him a bench role as he is sure to do with Hatem Ben Arfa, who played his first game in a year against Blackburn last Saturday and looked sharp but surely Pardew won't risk a Henry challenge setting the player back months/weeks if it's mistimed. Both are more likely to start against Spurs in a fortnight. Shola Ameobi (shoulder), Mike Williamson (ankle), Haris Vuckic (hand) are still out. I would expect Newcastle then to line-up the same as they did last week;

Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Colocinni, R Taylor, Obertan, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Best, Ba Subs: Elliott, Perch, Guthrie, Marveaux, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Sammy Ameobi

There's definitely an argument to be made that last week's hat trick hero Demba Ba would benefit more from the impressive French U21 international Sylvain Marveaux providing service on the left hand side of midfield but I imagine there will be a worry that he is too sleight for a game against a physical Wolves side and Jonas Gutierrez, who will be buoyed after securing his future with the club last week and who tore this side apart at home last season, will be the cleverer more battling player to start today, despite a run of a few quieter performances. Despite Harper being on the bench last week against Blackburn he is now apparently third choice and Rob Elliott will take his place on the bench today. Dan Gosling seems to have forgotten how to play football in his lengthy time-out and wasn't in the squad last week and we still aren't sure just what Alan Smith is doing to pick up his considerable pay packet. For Wolves; Defender Richard Stearman is a doubt after suffering a toe injury at Anfield last week. Newcastle will be happy to see that the always dangerous Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is out with a knee injury, plus Kevin Foley (ankle), ex-Mackem Jody Craddock (hamstring) and Ronald Zubar (groin) won't feature. Reports suggest 19 year old right back Matt Doherty will make his first Premier League start with the unenviable job of trying to contain Gutierrez, without him knicking a foul of you.

Mick McCarthy will be hoping the likes of Kevin Doyle (who signed a new contract this week) and Steven Fletcher (who scored against Liverpool last time out, Wolves' first goal in six ties) will be more goal threatening than they have been all season, especially against a resilient Newcastle defence.

Prediction: 1-1 - It's been 1-1 the last two times these sides met and I think it will be the same today in another battling game that won't be for the weak-hearted.