EPL: Newcastle United V Blackpool – Saturday, 11th September

Newcastle United V Blackpool

Saturday, 11th September – 15:00 GMT

Newcastle United

League Position: 8th
League Form: LWD

After a slow start, Newcastle United have picked up their form, to the point where the club are on the verge of extending Chris Hughton’s tenure at the club following successful promotion back to the Premier League and a promising start to the 2010/2011 season. Hughton’s men currently find themselves sat rather cosily in the upper half of the table, 8th to be more precise, and another win on Saturday, their second in succession at St. James Park, would see them make further inroads up the table.

Not that you should have forgotten already, but the last time St. James was packed out to the rafters it was for Newcastle’s first league game of the season, and we all know how that finished. The Toon Army will be out in force as they look to drive the Magpies over yet another three point finish line, thus backing up their domineering performance against Aston Villa in the middle of August, when Andy Carroll scored his first ever professional hat-trick en route to a 6-0 Newcastle rout. Despite Saturday’s opponents appearing a great deal weaker at first glance than Aston Villa, Blackpool will still take some beating judging by their most recent effort against Fulham when earning a 2-2 draw at the Cottage. Nevertheless, this is a perfect opportunity for Hughton’s men to bolster their points tally and to put even further breathing space between them and the relegation zone.

These two did of course met during Newcastle’s title winning season in the Championship last term, with both encounters going the way of the home side. However, Newcastle’s was far more emphatic, a convincing 4-1 win compared to Blackpool’s 2-1 victory, and the fact Newcastle haven’t lost at home since the final game of the 2008/2009 Premier League season, where Newcastle were relegated from the top-flight as a consequence, leads us to believe that the Magpies will take all the beating on home soil and will provide a formidable obstacle for every visitor this season – But they’ll also fancy their chances of beating a few sides on home soil this season, in front of an atmospheric crowd, and the Tangerines are definitely one of those sides.

Andy Carroll has recently been tipped for an England call up following his four goals in three league starts, but he’s nursing an ankle injury, one which kept him out of England U21 duty, and provides boss Chris Hughton with a minor scare. Combative midfielder Danny Guthrie could be set to make his first start of the season following a knee injury, while the St. James Park crowd could be treated to a glimpse of Sol Campbell for the first time, who has struggled to regain his fitness but the two weeks off because of internationals may have been just what the doctor ordered as he steps up his claims for a Newcastle début.

Blackpool

League Position: 12th
League Form: WLD

The season is just three games old but Blackpool are already set to embark upon their third trek away from Bloomfield Road, where St. James Park will be the venue as Blackpool look to pick up their second win of the season. The highlight of the season so far was undoubtedly their 4-0 rout of Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium, and while their emphatic win up north was impressive their follow up displays were equally uninspiring. A 2-2 draw with Fulham on home soil might just be a sign of further positive things to come from the Tangerines of Blackpool but we need to see further evidence before we start backing Blackpool in such difficult fixtures like this one with Newcastle United.

To their credit, few would have backed Blackpool to have four points to their name after their opening three encounters – So credit where it’s due – however they haven’t really rectified the problems which nearly cost them a place in the play-off’s: The Defence. Ian Holloway has never beat around the bush when his defence is concerned, claiming Blackpool’s best chance, possibly only chance, of avoiding the drop this season is by outscoring their opponents into submission. Their motto proved successful last season but has already hinted that it may prove their downfall in the Premiership, a league so ruthless that any defensive vulnerabilities are of punished, and Blackpool have already found that lesson out the hard way; conceding eight goals in just their last two league games.

You have to admire Holloway and Blackpool for their adamant attitude in playing the game the way it should be, without any caution and full to the mettle. However, his attempts to bring in star quality over the summer didn’t prove as effective nor successful, with the majority of his summer buys unproven at this level, the highest level considering the Premier League is rated as the best league in the world. Luke Varney scored on his Blackpool début in the 2-2 draw with Fulham before the international break, while Holloway swooped late on transfer deadline day to land DJ Campbell from Leicester City, but the rest we have serious concerns over. But the latter named, Campbell, could be thrown in at the deep right from the off on Saturday as Holloway continues his philosophy of focusing more on attack than defence.

Brett Omerod looks set to drop down to the bench following the arrival of DJ Campbell, but other than that there shouldn’t be too many changes from the team which earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Fulham a fortnight ago. Marlon Harewood should be in contention after recovering from a hamstring injury, although Alex Baptiste is a minor doubt with a head injury.

Match Prediction: Newcastle United to WIN – 1.62 PaddyPower

I know we shouldn’t read too much into the way Newcastle begun life in the Premier League at St. James Park, with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Aston Villa, because Villa were denied from the spot before Newcastle began the rout. Nevertheless, the manner in which Newcastle raised their game thereafter was hard not to be impressed with, while Andy Carroll proved he has what it takes to score goals at this level, boasting an abundance of hunger, spirit and courage that will serve him and the Magpies well this season.

The crowd will be baying for Blackpool blood on Saturday, demanding another clinical displays from their side and against a Blackpool side with a similar leaky defence to that of Burnley last season, who went on to ship a Premier League record 82 goals, the fans should get what they ask for.

Soccer-Betting Value Tip: Over 3.5 Goals – 3.00 Boylesports

If this game finishes 0-0 I’ll be shocked, as this game has goals written all over it!

Match Odds:

Newcastle United – 1.62 PaddyPower
Draw – 4.00 Bet365
Blackpool – 6.00 Coral