Newcastle v Trotters

[kennethlindheim]

The Trotters are coming off an excellent September in which they picked up 10 points out of a possible 12 and went the entire month without conceding a goal.

However, they travel to the North East with the recent record against them, having lost six out of the last seven at St James' Park and the home side winning all of the last five involving the two sides.

Newcastle's form of late, though, has been questionable, with the disappointing showing at Old Trafford last time out following on from just one win in the previous five games.

Their only victory in The Premiership since August came against an out-of-sorts West Ham side at Upton Park.

Manager Glenn Roeder will be keen to turn around The Magpies' fortunes against Bolton on Sunday, but faces a difficult test against Sam Allardyce's side, whose only loss this season came at Charlton at the end of August.

Bolton's most recent results have seen resilient defensive performances from Allardyce's troops and few would bet against a similar approach on Sunday.

The back four is once again set to be unchanged as The Trotters go in search of their fifth consecutive clean sheet in The Premiership, although Quinton Fortune will be pushing for a return at left back after returning from a groin problem.

Nicolas Anelka, buoyed by his goal for France in midweek, will continue to lead the line, with Kevin Davies and El Hadji Diouf supporting from the wings.

Allardyce has no new injury concerns after his international stars returned without any knocks.

Newcastle duo Nolberto Solano and Stephen Carr should return to the starting line-up after recovering from injuries, meaning the Irish full back will have the chance to continue his run of playing every Premiership minute so far this season.

Defender Titus Bramble is back after suspension and Giuseppe Rossi is available after sitting out the Manchester United game.

Kieron Dyer and Olivier Bernard are both short of match fitness and Shay Given is still a couple of weeks off returning.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=421808

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Strong 2nd half by Bolton.Bolton keeps on impressing.

[c.ronaldo#1]

Diouf is awesome.

[hanuma]

Ocasionally. Classic African style on the ball though....so unpredictable, defenders can't cope.

He's come along with his work rate though and looked a little like the striker Anelka used to be today.....ie brilliant.

[Werdna]

And I thought Liverpool's defense was poor!


if there's a player who comes close to Savage in the "don't deserve a professional contract" category it's Anelka (27yrs, atleast 27 clubs...and this week saying that he doesn't like Bolton and their kick and rush football ) and Diouf! Doesn't he ever ask himself why he gets bood at jsut abbout every ground he plays? ****.

[andy villa]

how long before we hear "ratboy roedent out!!" chants?!?

(my missus reckons ratboy roedent is mr bean...)

maybe the people who have chanted in the past werent at the game...

48k attendence from the "bestest fans in the whole wide world ever ever ever.." honest guvna.... (copyright skysports news..)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Roeder admits great concern

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder admits his side's performance in falling to Bolton was a source of great concern.

The Magpies started brightly at St James' Park and led through Shola Ameobi's conversion of a fortuitous 19th minute penalty award, but their performance tapered off markedly in the second period.

El Hadji Diouf scored twice to earn The Trotters a merited reward of three points, while the hosts were booed from the field at the final whistle.

Roeder, whose side have now picked up just one point from their last four league matches, could not hide his disappointment.

"The manner of the defeat greatly concerns me and was typical of the year we have had," Roeder told Sky Sports 1.

"We keep shooting ourselves in the foot and it has to stop because for 60 minutes I thought we were terrific - the first half particularly.

"It was unacceptable defending and the only thing we can do is get back on the training and work hard on those situations."

"I'm confident the team will turn it around and we will have a good season."

Source: http://home.skysports.com

[Pennywise]

Bah, this is not approved, Newcastle United!

No plan over the game. No tactic and no team-spirit.

They played approved in the first half, but we must remember that Bolton have a great team. Diouf are dangerous and the old pirate Campo was in the way all the time.

I am sorry to say this, but if not N'castle are developing in a positive way in the coming future, they can end up in the Soda league next season.