Newcastle v MAN CITY: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
4 May
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This fixture cannot compete with the hyperbolic build-up before the Manchester derby, but with such significance attached to the game, the feelings of nerves, tension and anxiety from Monday night are all sure to be repeated. With the opportunity to lift the Premier League trophy now in our hands, this encounter becomes key. Victory on Sunday would leave City in an overwhelmingly strong position heading into the QPR game, but the Blues must not start getting too far ahead of themselves.
Newcastle have been an absolute revelation this season. Deemed as possible relegation candidates in the summer, they have surprised and impressed in equal measure with their consistently superb performances and have a fantastic chance of securing Champions League football. It will be a hugely demanding fixture though form is on our side, having been unbeaten in our past ten matches against the Geordies, winning the four most recent encounters between the teams.
With regards to team selection, Roberto Mancini must be tempted to name an unchanged side from the one which defeated United, though Joe Hart will have to prove his fitness after suffering an injury last in that game. Micah Richards is vying with Pablo Zabaleta for a place on the right of defence, with Nigel de Jong pushing to start in midfield.
Further forward, it’s hard to see any changes to the quartet of Nasri, Silva, Aguero and Tévez, though James Milner has often done well against Newcastle in the past and will relish returning to his former club. Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko can expect to remain on the bench.
Here is the side Mancini could select:
As mentioned above, the home side have been terrific all season and were formidable in brushing aside Chelsea 2-0 just a couple of days ago. Papiss Cissé is the obvious threat, having scored thirteen goals in just twelve games, and his battle with Vincent Kompany will be an intriguing one. The likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, such a creative influence, Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye cannot be overlooked, so this is all set up to be a fiercely competitive and entertaining affair.
Referee: Howard Webb – He has officiated City four times this season, and we have been victorious in three of those matches (home wins v Everton, Norwich and Spurs). The last time he was in charge of the Blues was for the 1-1 draw with Stoke at the Britannia, when he had a poor day, missing lots of fouls on both sides.
Prediction: Newcastle 1 – 2 MAN CITY – Due to the footballing ability of both sides, it could well be an open affair but I’d back our attacking flair to come to the fore. Goals to be scored by Papiss Cissé, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri.
Oh Christ, I just can’t wait
Oh dear, this is the time when one has to be on bended knees and pray for a blues victory! 1968 victory must knock on the doors of everyone connected to the citizens. This is our moment. Every true blue must believe!
Before you get carried away, can I just say don’t underestimate United.
We’re going for a Champions League place and we are extremely good at home. In players like Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa and Cabaye we definitely have an attack that can do you serious damage. We’ve won 7 of our last 8 games home and away.
Nobody wants to see Manure win the title again but sorry folks, on this occasion we can’t help you.
Should be a good game.
Mancini should approach this game the same way he approached that last few fixtures and not to get over-cautious. I would love to see Mancini to push Yaya forward in his advanced role. It is going to be a tough fixture and at this moment everyone thinks we are going not to win this fixture and United beat Swansea. Let’s wait and see …
This is were it really could go wrong
This will is a really hard one to call…
I’m a Newcastle fan – and I’m really curious which team will turn up: the 0-3 against Wigan or the 2-0 against Chelsea… I hope for us the latter.
On the other side, I really want you to win the title – you’ve got a stunning team and a have lived in United’s shadow for too long for it to be bearable.
Dream result – win for us, Manure lose, we beat Everton and get champions league, you win your last game and the title.
0-4 to Wigan you mean
oh! golly , i can’t wait for the match. I have been a Mancity fan for a long time in a country where everyone including our premier are manure fans.
it gets really tiring to hear them cheer for manure.
i’m betting a 1-0 win for Mancity.
jaidi.