Preston North End Vs Newcastle United Preview
Coca-Cola Championship Monday 23rd November 2009
In what is already proving to be a tough month for the Lilywhites, North End face possibly their sternest test yet on Monday night when Alan Irvine’s men play host to Newcastle United in front of the Sky television cameras. The Championship table-toppers will be looking to continue their march towards an immediate return to the Premier League with a win at Deepdale, despite only one away win in their last three.
North End emerge from the international break after being in an break of their own. Alan Irvine took his team to La Manga training camp in Spain to inject the sharpness back into his players that was so lacking in recent weeks. As a result, the former Newcastle Academy coach will be aiming for North End’s first home win since September as well as their first in 3.
Form
Preston Home Form: WWLDDD
Newcastle Away Form: LWWLLW
Previous Meetings
The Lilywhites haven’t faced the Magpies in a league meeting since the early eighties; when Van Halen were still fronted by David Lee Roth in his first tenure and the first generation Volkswagen Golf was still in production. The 1980/1981 season saw Newcastle do the double over North End with a 2-0 win at St James Park and a 3-2 win at Deepdale.
It has been even longer since North End managed a win over their North East counterparts; the 1979/1980 season when Preston recorded a 1-0 win at Deepdale after a 0-0 draw at St James Park.
However, the most recent meeting between these two sides came in the FA Cup in January 1987. Newcastle played hosts to John McGrath’s Preston in the 3rd round where a 2-0 win for the home side was enough to see them progress.
At Deepdale, North End and Newcastle have gone face-to-face 39 times with Preston having a distinct win advantage; 22 over Newcastle’s 12.
Team News
New recruit Michael Tonge is set to make his debut for North End after joining on loan from Stoke in midweek. The former Sheffield United midfielder is set to make his first of possibly eight appearances for the Lilywhites before returning to his parent club on the 28th December.
Former Lilywhite Andy Carroll is also set to feature and consequently make his first appearance at Deepdale since his unsuccessful loan spell in 2007. Newcastle gaffer Chris Hughton will be welcoming the return of midfielder Jonas Gutierrez after recovering from a thigh injury the Argentine picked up during the 3-1 win over Peterborough earlier in the month.
However, the Magpies will be without Haris Vickic (knee and ankle), Joey Barton (foot) as well as striker Shola Ameobi (foot).