SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 22 hrs 19 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Mid-season report: Newcastle United

:Headline: Mid-season report: Newcastle United: ID:11553: from db_amp
The way Newcastle began the Premier League season surprised everyone and in spite of their recent dip in form, the Magpies will be content with their midway progress. Sports Mole takes a closer look at the campaign so far.

Newcastle United can certainly put themselves forward as the surprise package of the Premier League so far this season.

Some astute Alan Pardew signings coupled with an impressive unbeaten run have left the Magpies sitting comfortably in the top echelons of the league.

Here, Sports Mole inspects the Geordie's eye-opening campaign so far.

August

Arsenal were held to a stalemate on the opening day at St James' Park before a trademark Ryan Taylor free kick claimed a priceless win at local rivals Sunderland the following week.

2-1 victories against Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup and Fulham in the league followed, with Pardew's men yet to really hit their full stride.

September

Another clean sheet was recorded following the international break in a goalless draw at QPR before an extra-time win in the league cup at Nottingham Forest.

Amazingly, summer signing Demba Ba didn't net for the Magpies until the final game of September but when he did it was a hat-trick in a 3-1 triumph over lowly Blackburn Rovers.

October

The French-born Senegalese international was at it again in the win at Wolves and draw with Spurs as Newcastle continued their undefeated start, while another influential signing, Yohan Cabaye, sealed the points against Wigan.

The North East side did lose out to Blackburn in the Carling Cup after another extra-time affair before Ba again ended the month with a hat-trick in the difficult away trip to Stoke.

November

A 2-1 win at home to Everton ensured November began in much the similar vein before they faced their toughest test at table-toppers Manchester City, who were the only other unbeaten side in the league.

Inevitably Roberto Mancini's men were too strong at home and came through 3-1. The Magpies' next fixture was again in Manchester at the equally tough United, but this time they secured a courageous point thanks again to Ba.

December

The fixture list threw up another tricky encounter when Chelsea visited and suddenly Newcastle's defence didn't look so sure as Andre Villas-Boas's men eased to a 3-0 victory.

Despite Ba again scoring more than once at Norwich in the next game, the Canaries compounded Newcastle's misery with a 4-2 win.

A 0-0 draw with patient Swansea and a home defeat to in-form West Brom was next as Pardew's men continued their slide out of the top six.

Goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and another from Ba at Bolton ensured Christmas wasn't completely gloomy on Tyneside.

In spite of the slide out of the top four Pardew will be without doubt delighted with where his side sit at the turn of the year. The Magpies are seventh, one point off Liverpool but five clear of Stoke in eighth. Premier League football next year seems all but guaranteed.

The inspired Ba is currently second in the Premier League's goalscoring charts, only bettered by the relentless Robin van Persie.

What will worry Pardew is the defensive injury woes he is currently experiencing, with the rocksolid Steven Taylor already declared absent for the whole campaign.

amp_article__11553 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2011-12-27 23:27:03:
html db last update - 2011-12-27 23:27:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Demba Ba

Click here for more stories about Newcastle United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Bournemouth104331312115
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
11Brentford94141818013
12Fulham93331212012
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .