Newcastle United on-form at St James’ Park are always a tough task for any side to beat. That task is made tougher for Manchester United after their sluggish start to the season which again has been highlighted by their defensive worries at the back.
Despite sitting third in the league, only four points behind league leaders Chelsea, United have looked vulnerable and have started games slowly this season.
Given United’s defensive woes if Jonny Evans is unavailable you wouldn’t blame Sir Alex Ferguson drafting in Chris Smalling (back from his own spell out) to partner Rio Ferdinand. Against Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse Ferguson will need his best defenders.
Michael Carrick won’t do a bad job if selected to play at centre-half but after getting outplayed by Everton’s Marouanne Fellaini on opening-day, Newcastle’s Senegalese strikers will be licking their lips at the thought of getting the better of the former West Ham man.
Up front with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, there will be a goal-threat and with both players particularly Rooney having a good scoring record against Newcastle, United fans have no reason not to feel confident with those two up top.
In midfield is where this game will be won and lost and United can ill-afford to allow Alan Pardew’s side to dominate this area of the pitch in the same manner that they did so brilliantly the last time the two sides met in the Premier League.
Back in January only four days after losing at home to Blackburn, United were outfought, outmuscled and outclassed by Pardew’s side who deservedly went home with a 3-0 win made memorable for a stunning free-kick from Yohan Cabaye
Cabaye’s strike minutes after half-time killed the game off and United in truth never got going. In Cabaye and Cheick Tiote, Newcastle had two midfielders who grabbed the game by the scruff of the throat and never let go even when it was clear at 2-0 up that the three points wouldn’t be going back to Manchester.
United’s midfield barley got a kick of the ball with Cabaye, the little artist that he is finding passes at will painting the perfect picture with Tiote snapping away like a little terrier winning balls and not allowing any United player a second on the ball to relax.
Tom Cleverley and Anderson have been building a promising partnership in midfield that has never been allowed to grow due to injuries. It will be a major triumph for the pair to come out of tomorrow’s game and succeed against Cabaye and Tiote who have developed from a pair of unknowns (unfairly perhaps in the case of Cabaye who joined Newcastle after winning the French title with Lille) into proven Premier League players.
In truth tomorrow’s fixture will be far from easy for United. Newcastle have only lost 1 game at home in 2012 againgst Manchester City in their final fixture at home last season and will probably see the majority of the ball. United’s wingers will be needed to track back and defend. With that in mind it’s vital Rooney and co take their chances and hit Pardew’s side on the break.
A point tomorrow would be a great result though and one that would tell far more about the squad than say a routine win over Norwich or Sunderland. We are too big a club to moan about excuses and bad-luck. A trip to St James’ may look a daunting prospect but despite needing to win the game, United should go there with confidence hoping to prove the doubters wrong once again.
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By Adam Dennehey
