Newcastle United vs Wolverhamption Wanderers: Magpies Match Preview

Newcastle cannot afford to show their opponents any mercy this weekend, because another slip-up at home could thrust them bang into the middle of a brutal relegation dog fight.

After a bright start to the season, the Magpies have gotten back to their old ways and now look set to be embroiled in the unforgiving relegation struggle below them. Newcastle have only won once in their last nine fixtures and will be in pursuit of their first home win since back in January.

Wolves will offer up stiff opposition, as they also look to propel themselves out of the relegation place they have occupied for much of the season.

Although Newcastle find themselves 11th in the table, they are only four points above the deadly musical chairs of the relegation zone. A result against a "banana-peel" Wolves side could go a long way towards securing their safety this season.

On the other side of things, a recent resurgence from Wolves sees them sitting third from bottom, just a point adrift of the security of safety. A win for them could see them bolster their chances of avoiding the drop come May.

Last Meeting

August 28, 2010—Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 43) Newcastle 1 (Carroll 62)

Form Guide (Last five games - Premier League)

Newcastle - DWDLL

Wolves - LDWDW

The Magpies crawl into this game following a miserable set of results. They were humiliated last time out at Stoke and looked deflated against Everton at St. James Park before that. They will surely need to ramp-up their intensity to beat an in-form Wolves side.

On the other hand, Mick McCarthy's men have been on a good run of form recently. On the back of an impressive draw at home with Tottenham and an excellent away win at Villa, Wolves find themselves in the midst of a four-game unbeaten streak.

They will look to extend that streak at St. James Park on Saturday, a place where they have not won in the Premier League Era.

Team News

Newcastle

The Magpies midfield dynamo, Cheik Tioté, will miss out on this one. He'll be serving the first of a two-match ban after collecting his 10th booking of the season at Stoke.

Leon Best's ankle trouble looks set to keep him out, just as it did for Ireland in mid-week, while José Enriqué (hamstring) and Stephen Ireland (thigh) remain major doubts. Ryan Taylor is sidelined, as he has one more of his three-game suspension left to serve.

On the other hand, Newcastle fans will be relieved to hear that Joey Barton has recovered from the lingering thigh problem which has troubled him for the last few weeks.

Long Term Absentees: Ben Arfa (broken leg), Gosling (knee) and Smith (ankle)  

Wolves

Wolves will be without captain Kevin Doyle after he suffered a knee injury playing for his country during the international break. The prognosis does not look promising for Doyle, who may miss the rest of the season and the relegation run-in after it was revealed he had tore knee ligaments. 

Midfielder Adlene Guedioura may make a surprise return to the starting lineup for the first time in six months after recovering from a broken leg.

Long Term Absentees: Zubar, Mouyokolo, Mancienne, Hunt, Edwards.

Projected Starting Lineups

Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ferguson, Guthrie, Barton, Nolan, Ranger, Lovenkrands, Ameobi.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi, Hammill, Henry, Milijas, O'Hara, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake.

The Soundbite

Mick McCarthy, Wolves manager: "They've got 36 points, but if we beat them, they're in it, no question. Put it the other way—if we win at Newcastle, are we out of it?"

"They'll be saying if they beat us they'll be clearer—just like Villa were saying before our last game. That would put seven points between us and them and would make them hard to catch."