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NEWCASTLE UNITED v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 9th May 2015, 3:00pm
St James' Park

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 126th competitive meeting between the two clubs. Albion currently have a slight edge in terms of victories with 47 compared to United's 46.

Albion's last game on May 9 came in 2009 when goals from Marc-Antoine Fortune (2) and Chris Brunt gave them a 3-1 Premier League win over Wigan Athletic at The Hawthorns.

The Magpies' last game on this date came in 2004 when they were held to a 1-1 draw against Wolves in a Premier League clash at St James' Park.

Albion have only won one of their last 13 league visits to St James' Park (D3, L9).

United have lost eight successive league games for only the second time in their history. That previous run came in 1977 when they eventually lost 10 straight games.

The Baggies have never won three successive Premier League away games.

Newcastle have lost their last four games at St James' Park - only once have they lost five successive home league games, in 1953 when they lost six.

Albion have kept just three clean sheets against United in the last 30 matches between the sides.

If selected, both Saido Berahino and Boaz Myhill will make their 50th starts for Albion.

Albion's last six games: Manchester United (A) 1-0; Liverpool (H) 0-0; Crystal Palace (A) 2-0; Leicester City (H) 2-3; Queens Park Rangers (H) 1-4; Manchester City (A) 0-3.

Newcastle United's last six games: Leicester City (A) 0-3; Swansea City (H) 2-3; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 1-3; Liverpool (A) 0-2; Sunderland (A) 0-1; Arsenal (H) 1-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis has a couple of un-named doubts for the trip to St James' Park, one of whom is believed to be James Morrison who missed last weekend's win at Old Trafford with a back problem.

Newcastle United

Papiss Cisse is available again after serving a seven-match ban although a recent knee injury may mean he will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Mike Williamson and Daryl Janmaat are both suspended whilst Siem De Jong is out due to a thigh problem.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 9/5, Newcastle United Win: 13/8, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 5/1, Anichebe 11/2, Ideye 6/1, Sessegnon 13/2, McManaman 15/2, Gardner 9/1, Brunt 11/1, Morrison 12/1, Dawson 16/1, Mulumbu 16/1, Fletcher 20/1, McAuley 20/1, Lescott 20/1, Baird 25/1, Yacob 33/1, Olsson 33/1.

United: Ayoze 11/2, Cisse 11/2, De Jong 6/1, Riviere 13/2, Armstrong 15/2, Gouffran 8/1, Sissoko 9/1, Aarons 9/1, Cabella 10/1, Ameobi 10/1, Obertan 11/1, Colback 12/1, Abeid 12/1, Taylor 12/1, Gutierrez 25/1, Lascelles 28/1, Dummett 28/1, Coloccini 33/1, Satka 33/1, Anita 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 8/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Foy has taken charge of just one Albion game this season - the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal in November.

The Merseyside official has taken charge of three Newcastle games during 2014/15 - their 5-0 loss at Manchester City in February, the 1-0 win at home against Queens Park Rangers in November and the 4-0 defeat at Southampton in September.

Foy has issued 77 yellow cards and eight red in the 21 games he has officiated so far this season.

A full run-down of Foy's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Albion were allocated an initial 1,600 tickets which was later increased by an extra 600. As part of a reciprocal agreement between the clubs, prices were set at just £15 adults and £5 seniors (over-65s), under-18s and full-time students.

There were reportedly approximately 300 tickets left when they were took off sale on Friday afternoon.

WEATHER FORECAST

Thick cloud, 9°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

The first ever meeting of the two sides was a friendly game at St James' Park in April 1893 which saw United run out comfortable 7-2  winners, Jock Sorley hitting a hat-trick for the hosts.

Albion first met Newcastle in league action during the 1898/99 season. The first game between the two sides, at St James' Park in December, ended in a 3-0 win for United. Andy Aitken, Jock Peddie and Joe Rogers scoring the home sides' goals. The return game at Stoney Lane in April saw the Baggies gain revenge with a 2-0 victory, Arthur Smith and Billy Bassett the Albion goalscorers in front of a crowd of just 2,304.

Albion's biggest league win against United is 7-3, at St James' Park in September 1953 when Johnny Nicholls led the visitors' scoring with a hat-trick, Ronnie Allen (2), Frank Griffin and Reg Ryan scored the other Albion goals. The performance by Vic Buckingham's men earned applause from all supporters present at the game and is generally recognised as one of the club's greatest performances.

Another big win for Albion was a 6-0 mauling of United at The Hawthorns in September 1960, a game that saw Alec Jackson hit a hat-trick. The Baggies have also twice recorded a 6-1 victory against United at The Hawthorns, first in September 1902 and then in May 1967, Tony Brown hitting three goals in the latter game.

Albion's heaviest league defeat against United is 5-1, a scoreline which has occurred four times - three of which came on Tyneside: November 1931, September 1938 and November 1949. The other victory came at The Hawthorns in November 1989. The 1938 meeting saw Billy Cairns net four of the United goals.

The Baggies have won just three out of the last 26 league meetings between the clubs.

A full fixture history between the two teams can be found here

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

(Click on game to view)

Monday 18 January 2010 - Newcastle United 2-2 Albion - League Championship - St James' Park
Saturday 8 August 2009 - Albion 1-1 Newcastle United - League Championship - The Hawthorns
Saturday 7 February 2009 - Albion 2-3 Newcastle United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 May 1991 - Albion 1-1 Newcastle United - Second Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 27 October 1990 - Newcastle United 1-1 Albion - Second Division - St James' Park
Wednesday 1 November 1989 - Albion 1-5 Newcastle United - Second Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 16 February 1974 - Albion 0-3 Newcastle United - FA Cup 5th Round - The Hawthorns

Saturday 20 February 1954 - Albion 3-2 Newcastle United - FA Cup 5th Round - The Hawthorns
Saturday 8 January 1938 - Albion 1-0 Newcastle United - FA Cup 3rd Round - The Hawthorns

LAST MEETING AT ST JAMES' PARK

Newcastle United 2-1 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 30th November 2013, 3:00pm

Newcastle United: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (c), Santon; Sissoko (Cisse 90+5), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Remy (Anita 83). Subs not used: Elliot (gk), Yanga-Mbiwa, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa.

Goalscorers: Gouffran 36, Sissoko 57

Booked: Tiote 32 (dissent)

Albion: Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison, Mulumbu; Amalfitano (Gera 88), Sessegnon (Anichebe 77), Brunt (c) (Berahino 77); Long. Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Popov, Lugano, Yacob.

Goalscorer: Brunt 53

Booked: Brunt 28 (dissent), Mulumbu 89 (foul)

Attendance: 49,298

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Moussa Sissoko's thunderbolt fired Newcastle into the Barclays Premier League's top five as the Magpies secured a fourth successive victory. The Frenchman's 57th-minute strike from 25 yards killed off a spirited West Brom fightback after the Baggies had responded to Yoan Gouffran's 36th-minute opener to level within eight minutes of the restart through Chris Brunt's equally explosive finish. His effort ensured the Magpies collected a fourth league win on the trot for the first time since the closing stages of the 2011-12 season, when they went on to finish fifth. However, the Baggies gave as good as they got in an end-to-end encounter which often lacked quality, but not effort and commitment, in front of a crowd of 49,298.

Games between the two sides, who emerged from the Championship together at the end of the 2009-10 season, have been close in recent seasons, and this one proved to be little different as they went toe-to-toe from the off. However, both lacked the killer instinct in the final third to make their better periods of possession tell for much of the opening 45 minutes, and although the Magpies went in at the break with a lead, it was one which looked far from decisive. The Baggies started the better and Newcastle keeper Tim Krul had to make a smart save to turn Brunt's curling free-kick around the post. However, the Dutchman was less than convincing when the resulting corner was delivered and it took a brave block by returning full-back Mathieu Debuchy to prevent Stephane Sessegnon from capitalising from close range. The home side gradually worked their way into the game, although with Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long causing all kinds of problems for Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson as the Baggies launched an aerial assault, there was little to choose between the teams. Loic Remy, who went into the game with eight goals in as many league appearances, was strangely off colour and failed to make the most of Debuchy's inviting 19th-minute cross, glancing a header tamely towards goal which defender Billy Jones was able to clear. However, it was Alan Pardew's men who eventually took the lead nine minutes before the break when they scored from a corner for the second time in a week having gone more than two years previously without having done so. West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill made a mess of punching Yohan Cabaye's left-wing corner clear, sending the ball straight up into the air and as it dropped, Gouffran got there first despite the best efforts of Youssuf Mulumbu and headed into the empty net. The setback spurred the visitors on once again, although Sessegnon, who had earlier shot tamely at Krul, sliced an attempt horribly wide from the edge of the penalty area. Newcastle left the pitch feeling aggrieved after defender Jonas Olsson appeared to drag back Remy when he had been played through by Remy. The incident took place outside the box, but had he blown, referee Phil Dowd, who opted not to red card Everton's Kevin Mirallas last weekend, might have had little option but to do so this time around.

Remy had another good opportunity within four minutes of the restart after James Morrison had inadvertently helped the ball into Shola Ameobi's path and he played his strike partner in. However, the Frenchman's first touch took him wide and Myhill was able to intervene. It was the Baggies who threatened two minutes later when Long was allowed to run from his own half before picking out Morgan Amalfitano in space, although his cross was overhit. But they were level with 53 minutes gone when Brunt picked up possession beyond the far post and took a touch before smashing the ball left-footed past Krul and in off the underside of the bar. It might have been even worse for the Magpies three minutes later when Long failed to connect with Olsson's header down from Amalfitano's corner. The third goal of the game came at the other end within seconds when Remy headed the ball into the path of Sissoko and he blasted an unstoppable shot into Myhill's top left corner. Newcastle stepped up a gear in a bid to wrap up the win and might have done so had Debuchy not thumped a shot straight into Myhill's midriff after latching on to the keeper's poorly-aimed throw. But substitute Victor Anichebe headed just wide in the final minute of normal time as the visitors came desperately close to snatching a point in a late flurry which prompted heroics from Williamson and Debuchy in particular.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

None.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Stan Allan, John Anderson, Harry Brown, Franz Carr, Eddie Connelly, Wayne Fereday, Ruel Fox, Andy Hunt, Tom Hutchinson, Dennis Martin, Mick Martin, David Mills, Bob Pailor, George Reilly, Dick Roberts, Mark Robinson, Colin Suggett, John Trewick, Imre Varadi, Steve Watson and Kenny Wharton.

Ossie Ardiles managed both clubs during the 1990s; Former Albion boss Gary Megson played for United during the mid 1980s; Sir Bobby Robson played for Albion and managed Newcastle; Former Baggies' boss Keith Burkinshaw had earlier been on the coaching staff at United; Jesse Carver, who managed Albion in 1952, had played for United during the 1930s; Albion hard-man of the 1950s Maurice Setters was later United Chief Scout; Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Eric Steele coached at The Hawthorns; Albion's 1968 FA Cup winning captain Graham Williams later became a scout for United; From 1998-99, former Baggies boss' Steve Clarke was assistant manager at St James' Park during Ruud Gullit's short-lived reign at the club; another former Albion boss - Alan Irvine, was United's academy director between 2001 and 2005.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS NEWCASTLE UNITED

 VENUE P W D  L F A
 Home 64 30 19 15 121 84
 Away 61 17 13 31 87 126
 Total 125 47 32 46 208 210

LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST NEWCASTLE UNITED

DATE COMPETITION H/A F-A GOALSCORERS     GATE
 Sun 09 Nov 2014 Premier League H 0-2 Perez, Coloccini    26,476
Wed 01 Jan 2014 Premier League H 1-0 Berahino (pen)    26,430
Sat 30 Nov 2013 Premier League A 1-2 Brunt - Gouffran, Sissoko    49,298
Sat 20 Apr 2013 Premier League H 1-1 Jones - Gouffran    25,671
Sun 28 Oct 2012 Premier League A 1-2 Lukaku - Ba, Cissι    49,731
Sun 25 Mar 2012 Premier League H 1-3 Long - Cisse 2, Ben Arfa    25,049
Wed 21 Dec 2011 Premier League A 3-2 Odemwingie, McAuley, Scharner - Ba 2    51,060
Sun 22 May 2011 Premier League A 3-3 Tchoyi 3 - S Taylor, Lovenkrands, Olsson (og)    51,678
Sun 05 Dec 2010 Premier League H 3-1 Tchoyi, Odemwingie 2 - Lovenkrands    23,486
Sat 23 Jan 2010 FA Cup H 4-2 Olsson, Dorrans 2 (2 pens), Thomas - Carroll 2    16,102


 

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