MX23RW : Monday, December 23 09:36:19| >> :120:38110:38110:

Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Newcastle United

Preview: West Brom vs. Newcastle
© PA Photos
Sports Mole looks ahead to this weekend's Premier League battle between West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United.

Newcastle United can bounce back from their damaging Tyne-Wear derby defeat this weekend, but they face a tough task against West Bromwich Albion.

The Magpies are just five points away from relegation, and while the North East outfit are not directly in danger of facing the drop, nerves may begin to creep in if they lose two on the bounce following their 3-0 defeat to Sunderland last weekend.

Newcastle will be relying on their travelling fans to behave at The Hawthorns following the unsavoury scenes that resulted in numerous arrests around St James' Park last Sunday.

For the Baggies, they have lost their last two league matches - against Arsenal and West Ham United - and this weekend's reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 defeat on away turf.

Shane Long is likely to be trusted with the goal threat for the home side, while Newcastle will opt for Rob Elliot between the posts following Tim Krul's injury blow.

Recent form

West Bromwich Albion: LLDWL

Newcastle United: LWLLW

Possible starting lineups

West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Brunt; Morrison, Thomas, Dorrans; Long

Newcastle United: Elliot; Taylor, Marveaux, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa; Gutierrez, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye; Gouffran, Cisse

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:80196: cacheID:80196:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2904:
Written by
Danielle Joynson

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Newcastle 'keeper Tim Krul injures an arm in the game with Sunderland on April 14, 2013
Read Next:
Krul out for season
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!