da pinup bet： Championship leaders Newcastle United will look to bounce back from successive league defeats when they welcome fifth-placed Birmingham City to St James’ Park this afternoon.
da 888casino： The Toon suffered a surprise 1-0 loss at home to Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago, before they were beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest in a crazy match at the City Ground last Friday.
Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett were both dismissed in the first half for Rafa Benitez’s side in incidents which resulted in penalties, but Karl Darlow saved both spot-kicks and Matt Ritchie gave the visitors a surprise lead at the break.
However, the tiredness soon caught up with the remaining nine men and Nicklas Bendtner equalised for Forest before a late Jamaal Lascelles own goal – against his former side – saw the Magpies take nothing from the match.
They face a tough task against a Birmingham side who had been in good form until an unexpected 3-0 home reverse against Barnsley last time out.
Here is the Newcastle XI that will get back to winning ways against Birmingham…
GK: Karl Darlow
If he wasn’t assured of being the No.1 goalkeeper under Rafa Benitez already, Darlow’s heroics in the defeat to Nottingham Forest last week mean he now HAS to be first choice.
The former Forest stopper saved both of the penalties he faced in the first half at the City Ground as the Magpies were reduced to nine men, but there was nothing he could do about Jamaal Lascelles’ late own goal that decided the match.
RB: Vurnon Anita
Benitez has already shown that he isn’t afraid to rotate his big squad this season and following a run of games in the team, Anita was dropped to the bench in favour of DeAndre Yedlin against Forest.
However, when United were reduced to nine men in the first half the Dutchman soon entered the action and he will be the favourite to regain his right-back slot for the home match against a Birmingham side that currently sit in the play-off positions.
CB: Ciaran Clark
The Republic of Ireland ace has been a rock for Newcastle at the back this season and has formed a strong partnership with captain Jamaal Lascelles that has seen the likes of Chancel Mbemba relegated to the substitutes’ bench.
However, the centre-back also showed he can be a threat at the other end of the pitch against Forest last week, although his goal was ruled out because he was wrongly adjudged to have been offside as he put the ball into the net.
CB: Jamaal Lascelles
The Magpies’ captain was extremely unfortunate to concede the late own goal against former side Nottingham Forest last week, and he will want to make up for it by helping the team get back to winning ways against Birmingham following successive defeats.
It could be an interesting afternoon for the skipper – who has enjoyed an impressive campaign – and Clark alongside him, as they could endure a physical battle against Blues strikers Clayton Donaldson and Lukas Jutkiewicz.
LB: Paul Dummett
Last week, the left-back was red-carded for a last-man challenge on Henri Lansbury that looked to be a controversial decision, and it proved to be the case when the dismissal was overturned this week meaning that Dummett will be available for the visit of Birmingham.
It is a decision that will come as a relief to Benitez who has few options on the left-hand side of defence when Dummett is absent.
CM: Jack Colback
Newcastle have only lost one match when the midfielder has played this season, and Benitez will be delighted that the former Sunderland man should be available again following a spell on the sidelines with an eye injury at St James’ Park.
Colback missed the defeats to Blackburn and Nottingham Forest – with those losses coming after a nine-match winning run in all competitions – and he should slot back into the centre of the park alongside Jonjo Shelvey.
CM: Jonjo Shelvey
Shelvey was dismissed just 33 minutes into the defeat to Forest for kicking out at Henri Lansbury, but like Paul Dummett his red card was overturned during the week meaning he will be available for the clash at St James’ Park.
The midfielder has been one of the club’s standout performers this term as they top the Championship table and he should revive his central midfield partnership with the returning Jack Colback against Birmingham.
RAM: Matt Ritchie
One of the players that would have been most gutted about the 2-1 defeat to Forest last weekend would have been Ritchie.
After the hosts missed two penalties, the winger’s well-taken strike gave Benitez’s side the lead at the break and you might have thought at that point that it was going to be their night.
Benitez will want to see that goal threat from Ritchie again as the club look end a run of two successive defeats.
CAM: Ayoze Perez
After starting the majority of Newcastle’s games in the Championship this season in the No.10 role, it is clear to see that Benitez is a big fan of his fellow countryman.
Perez was sacrificed at half-time at the City Ground last week after the Mapgies were reduced to nine men, and with the eight-day break that has followed, the Spaniard should be raring to go again at St James’ Park.
LAM: Yoan Gouffran
The French winger has been one of the club’s surprise performers this season and with little competition in the wide positions – aside from perhaps the inconsistent Christian Atsu – he should start again when Birmingham come to town.
Being at home, the emphasis will be on the Magpies to attack from the off, and Benitez will want Gouffran to cause as many problems as he can against young Blues full-back Josh Cogley, who is just 20-years-of-age.
ST: Dwight Gayle
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez decided to drop top scorer Gayle to the bench against Blackburn Rovers, and the game ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat. Coincidence? Probably not.
The former Crystal Palace man was back in the starting XI in place of Aleksandar Mitrovic against Forest, and the 13-goal attacker must again retain his spot in the line-up when he has been so prolific and is so full of confidence at the current time, especially when the onus is on the Magpies to attack at St James’ Park.