Newcastle United visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in a mid-table Premier League contest between two sides level on points after seven matches.
Eddie Howe’s team enters the fixture on the back of
a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in which feels like a thousand years ago, while Brighton earned a late draw against Wolves before the international break.
Brighton have collected nine points from their opening seven games. The Seagulls have also never lost to Newcastle in eight Premier League home meetings, a record that underlines their control of this fixture, at least when they play in known confines.
Newcastle share Brighton’s points total but remain hellaciously bad in attack, converting just 7.5 percent of their chances in front of the opposite goal. On the other hand, the Magpies have made defense their calling card.
Newcastle’s defensive record is among the league’s best, with five clean sheets and only five goals conceded. Nick Pope leads the division in shutouts, though Newcastle have failed to score in any of their four away league games this season, all of which ended goalless.
The Magpies won’t have any of Yoane Wissa, Tino Livramento or Lewis Hall available as they keep rehabbing from their injuries. Jacob Ramsey is also doubtful, but Nick Woltemade, who scored his first goal for Germany during the break, should lead the line again and come in strong this weekend once more.
Here are some of Howe’s Wisdom Nuggets, courtesy of NUFC.co.uk
On team-news:
“I think everyone has come back okay. A little concern over Joelinton but I think he has come back okay and hopefully he’ll train today.
“Jacob had a couple of training sessions. We didn’t want to push him too early, he trained in the break and looked good and pleased where he is now.
“Lewis’ second scan was good news. We hope he will be back during this period of games we have before the next international break. He’s such an important player for us.”
On the progress of Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa:
“Tino is out of the brace, no massive changes to the time frame that he was given but he is feeling positive.
“Yoane’s had his first time on the grass with us, which was great to see and his knee has reacted well to that work so far. It will now be a case of stepping him up gradually. I know he is desperate to get out and show his worth but it’s one step at a time now.”
On Wilson’s appointment, who arrives at St. James’ Park following his departure from Nottingham Forest:
“I have known Ross for a number of years. He has been around the game for a long time and done well from the outside. Working with him now, it will be interesting to see how our relationship develops. My first impressions of him and his work are very good. He seems a positive person, a good person.
“I back Ross’ appointment and I hope we can work together well and have success. I think Ross will be a great addition.”
On away form, with Newcastle’s last three league trips ending in goalless draws:
“We continue to look at it on a game-by-game basis. There is a lot of good in our away performances, I back the players, I back the team, we will come good in that respect in front of goal. There’s a lot of good in our defensive structure and that’s a positive thing, going away and being defensively solid.”
On Brighton, with United seeking a first Premier League victory at the Amex Stadium:
“It is a team that we always have tough games against; they are well managed and coached and have some very good players in their squad. I thought we played well at their place last year, one of our better away performances, and that point ended up being so valuable for us.”
Howay!
- Date: Saturday, October 18th
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST / 9:00 EST
- Location: American Express Stadium, Brighton and Hove (England)
For all your watching needs, check LiveSoccerTV.
