Match Preview: Newcastle United vs. Blackburn Rovers

(P.S. €“ I am a Newcastle United fan, so as always my match reports are bias and for the like minded); Unbeaten in seven games Newcastle United go into today's Premier League match at St. James' Park with Blackburn Rovers knowing all too well that the visitors have won on this ground five consecutive times, an unbelievably strong record that Alan Pardew will be wanting to put a stop to today. But this season's game compared to the one last year on this ground when Chris Hughton was in charge is significantly different in that 1) Joey Barton has left, and he completely overshadowed the game with his disruptive and illegal antics that saw him post-match banned via video evidence and 2) former manager Sam Allardyce has left the club, and his tactics forever haunted Newcastle, even when he was our own manager. And there is a 3) Newcastle are more resilient than they have been since Bobby Robson's days and are such a tough side to beat. In the last 7 days alone we have seen the difference in the home side in just a year. Could we be certain that Newcastle would have comeback against Aston Villa after being a goal down under Chris Hughton (actually no history tells us they didn't last season) or that they could force through their victory against Forest who likewise refused to die on Tuesday night? Plus Blackburn aren't the side they were last year either. But having said after all the doom and gloom at Ewood Park and protests against under fire manager Steve Kean, his players stood up for themselves last week and made an unexpected comeback from the dead against Arsenal and will be buoyed for today's game. Plus a further confidence boosting win against League One opposition Leyton Orient in the Carling Cup mid-week, with a goal from Simon Vuckcevic for the first time in a Blackburn Rovers shirt will have done no harm and for that particular forward, might even see him start today's game. He will also be aware of the goal threat that the Rovers forwards have caused Newcastle in the past - Yakubu and Jason Roberts already racking up four strikes against the Toon and Morten Gamst-Pedersen is also a pest, incidentally a player that if Graeme Souness had waited and bought a weeks later, he would have actually been able to field for Newcastle United as he became the Magpies boss soon after he bought him for Rovers. Team News; Hatem Ben Arfa seemed to come through the Forest League Cup game unscathed and by all accounts really enjoyed his pitch time so he could make his first Premier League start in a year, though in doing so would disrupt the impressive midfield of Jonas Guttierez, Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote and Gabriel Obertan, unless Pardew decides to put him in up-front behind Leon Best, with Shola Ameobi doubtful for the game after picking up a knock against Forest. Speaking of which, a few more man of the match performances from Sylvain Marveaux might see him overtake Guttierez in the first team as the French under 21 international has one thing Jonas struggles with every game.... the ability to cross the ball into the right danger area first time. Mike Wiliamson, Alan Smith and Haris Vuckic are still injured, with the game coming too soon for new full-back Davide Santon to make his debut. Shola Ameobi picked up a knock against Nottingham Forest in the late League cup win on Tuesday night and may miss out. Gk & defence should remain the same for Newcastle. For Blackburn, David Dunn (calf) and Ryan Nelsen (knee) miss out but David Goodwillie, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Michel Salgado are all fit to return. Prediction: 2-1 Newcastle will break the Rovers St. James' hoodoo and carry on their good start to the season.