Matchday thread - Toon v Chelsea

[UlversToon]

Newcastle return to action on Saturday when Chelsea head to St. James' Park for an old-fashioned, non-televised 3pm kick-off in the Premier League.

Following victories over Brentford, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Arsenal, United are bidding to make it five successive home league wins and clean sheets - something they've never achieved in the PL and last managed in the top flight back in 1907.

This is the first of ten league and cup games (five home, five away) for the Magpies in a 32 day period.

Team: It's predicted that Sean Longstaff will be missing for an unspecified period due to an ankle injury. He's currently on four PL bookings and will serve a one game ban if yellow-carded in any of our next seven games in that competition.

Bruno Guimaraes is available after serving a one match ban but Lewis Hall is ineligible to face his parent club.

Miguel Almiron will feature after pulling out of international duty with Paraguay as a precaution, while Fabian Schar is also back in training after linking up with Switzerland but not playing.

Alexander Isak's fitness is unclear, with Eddie Howe reluctant to commit in Friday's press call.

The news is less positive though on Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Javier Manquillo, Jacob Murphy, Matt Targett and Callum Wilson plus of course Sandro Tonali.

Despite withdrawing from England duty, Kieran Trippier should keep his place in the side.

CFC: Ruled out are Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Wesley Fofana, with Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku possible returnees.

There were doubts over Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto after the defensive duo withdrew from international duty with injury problems but the pair have restarted training.

Away from Stamford Bridge this season, Chelsea began with a 1-3 loss at West Ham, followed by a scoreless draw at Bournemouth. Since then they've won three in a row: 2-0 at Fulham, 4-1 at Burnley and 4-1 at Spurs.

Referee: Simon Hooper - first time in the middle with Newcastle this season for the Wiltshire official, last spotted handling our 2-2 draw at Leeds last May.

VAR: John Brooks

Tonali prices this match as follows:

NUFC win 8/5
The draw 12/5
CFC win 33/20
NUFC win 1-0 17/2
NUFC win, BTTS 15/4
NUFC win to nil 19/5

UK TV: None

UK Radio: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Stats:

Blues @ SJP - Premier League era:

2022/23 Won 1-0 Willock
2021/22 Lost 0-3
2020/21 Lost 0-2
2019/20 Won 1-0 Hayden
2018/19 Lost 1-2 Joselu
2017/18 Won 3-0 Gayle, Perez 2
2015/16 Drew 2-2 Perez, Wijnaldum
2014/15 Won 2-1 Cisse 2
2013/14 Won 2-0 Gouffran, Remy
2012/13 Won 3-2 Gutierrez, Sissoko 2
2011/12 Lost 0-3
2010/11 Drew 1-1 Carroll
2008/09 Lost 0-2
2007/08 Lost 0-2
2006/07 Drew 0-0
2006/07 Lost 0-1 (LC)
2005/06 Won 1-0 Bramble
2004/05 Drew 1-1 og(Geremi)
2004/05 Won 1-0 Kluivert (FAC)
2004/05 Lost 0-2 (LC)
2003/04 Won 2-1 Ameobi, Shearer
2002/03 Won 2-1 og(Hasselbaink) Bernard
2001/02 Lost 1-2 Shearer
2000/01 Drew 0-0
1999/00 Lost 0-1
1998/99 Lost 0-1
1997/98 Won 3-1 Dabizas, Lee, Speed
1996/97 Won 3-1 Shearer 2, Asprilla
1995/96 Won 2-0 Ferdinand 2
1995/96 Drew 2-2 Albert, Beardsley (FAC) (2-4pens)
1994/95 Won 4-2 Cole 2, Fox, Lee
1993/94 Drew 0-0

Latest Premier League fixtures:

Sat 25.11.2023:
Manchester City v Liverpool (12.30pm) Sky
Burnley v West Ham (3pm)
Luton Town v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Newcastle v Chelsea (3pm)
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm)
Sheffield United v Bournemouth (3pm)
Brentford v Arsenal (5.30pm) TNT

Sun 26.11.2023:
Spurs v Aston Villa (2pm) Sky
Everton v Manchester United (4.30pm) Sky

Mon 27.11.2023:
Fulham v Wolves (8pm) Sky

[UlversToon]

I'm afraid I'm not feeling that confident about this one, so will be happy to take a draw.

[overseasTOON]

Funny feeling about this one and think we might just scrape a win. It won't be pretty.

All I'm hoping for though is no more bloody injuries.

[beatski]

i've got a bad feeling about this

but then i always do

[jimileysbaldhead]

Can't quite make my mind up about this one, we'll either win 3-1 or 4-1.

[biggeordiedave]

i've got a bad feeling about this

but then i always do

I'm not as pessimistic as I used to be, but definitely have a bad feeling about today. And the next 7 or 8 matches after that too.

[bodacious benny]

Anywhere near full strength and I’d be disappointed if we didn’t get three points here, but as it is I’d happy take a draw now.

[Chappy]

State of that bench tho

[bodacious benny]

3 keepers’, 4 youth team players, Dummett and Ritchie

[Lammy]

Probably worst time to play Chelsea.

But hopefully we play well

[Blue & Maroon]

Solid 1st 11 apart from Miley. The bench is erm, worrying. Cant wait for someones hamstring to snap in the first ten mins

[originallad]

That's the worst bench I've ever seen 3 goalkeepers!!!

[Chappy]

Solid 1st 11 apart from Miley. The bench is erm, worrying. Cant wait for someones hamstring to snap in the first ten mins

Don't tempt fate!

I just hope we get thru this unscathed

[seaside nipper]

That's the worst bench I've ever seen 3 goalkeepers!!!

Acht not too bad, as Eddie days, “ they are fit “

[originallad]

If it was a choice between a draw and no injuries and a win with injuries I think I'd go for the draw.

[Chappy]

I really hope that miss doesn't come back to haunt us.... jesus christ man

[Chappy]

We are so frustrating to watch at times

[overseasTOON]

Only getting snippets from text updates.

How've we been playing?

[Chappy]

Only getting snippets from text updates.

How've we been playing?

We've been good in parts... the game is open though and it's pretty even. We've had chances we should have put away as have Chelsea.

Tripps and Joelinton on yellows need to be careful and I s**** myself everytime Nick Pope has to play the ball with his feet.

[Blue & Maroon]

Jamal!