PREVIEW: NEWCASTLE UNITED v CARDIFF CITY

A comprehensive look at Saturday's trip to St James' Park

Newcastle United v Cardiff City
Venue: St James’ Park
Nav-it: NE1 4ST
Date: Saturday, 3rd May, KO 3pm
Match-tag:#NEWCAR (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

Cardiff City return to the northeast and Newcastle to take on the Magpies and St James’ Park.

MATCH FACTS

-    Cardiff City’s 2-1 FA Cup victory over the Magpies in their last visit to St James’ Park in January, was the Bluebirds first in the City since just under 51 years.
-    Cardiff are the only team yet to concede an own goal in the Premier League this season.
-    Newcastle United have lost six consecutive top flight matches, the first time they have done so in the Premier League era.
-    In the last six games, the Magpies have conceded 17 goals, scoring just once.
-    City defender Steven Caulker is one of only two outfield players to play every minute of every game this season (along with Palace’s Mile Jedinak).
-    Three of the last five Englishmen to score for Newcastle in the Premier League have been playing for the opposition.
-    Both meetings between these sides this season (one league, one FA Cup) have ended 2-1 to the away side.

KEY PLAYER: Loïc Rémy



Returning from a calf injury for the Magpies on Monday night, Rémy’s 13 goals this season top the Newcastle United scoring charts. His attacking prowess is well known by the Bluebirds following his double in October at Cardiff City Stadium, goals that would see the Magpies run out 2-1 winners on the day.

ONE TO WATCH: Yoan Gouffran



Arriving at St James’ Park in January 2013, Gouffran has become a regular name on the United teamsheet since joining from French Ligue 1 side Bordeaux. With 37 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions this season Gouffran’s goalscoring prowess of 2013 hasn’t quite been replicated this year, with his seven goals all coming in the early stages of the current campaign.

RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):

Cardiff City: LDLWDL
Last time out: Sunderland 4-0 Cardiff City – Sunday 27th April, Barclays Premier League.



A Connor Wickham double and goals from Fabio Borini and Emanuele Giaccherini consigned the Bluebirds to defeat at Stadium of Light last weekend as the Black Cats jumped out of the relegation zone.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall; KTC, Caulker (C), Cala, Fabio (Jones 64); Cowie (Zaha 45), Medel, Whittingham, Dæhli; Mutch, Campbell (Bellamy 74). Subs: Lewis; Turner, Eikrem, John.
    
Newcastle United:  LLLLLL
Last time out: Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle United – Monday 28th April, Barclays Premier League.



Goals from Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud consigned the Magpies to their sixth straight Premier League defeat in a row on Monday night. During that spell, Alan Pardew’s side have conceded 17 goals and have scored just once. 

Team – Newcastle United: Krul, Dummett, Williamson, Debuchy (Yanga-Mbiwa, 84), Coloccini, Tiote, Gosling (Ameobi, 69), Anita, Gouffran (Armstrong, 89), Sissoko, Remy. Subs not used: Elliot, Obertan, Haidara, Taylor.

LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING:

2013/14: Saturday 4th January 2014, FA Cup with Budweiser third round – Newcastle United 1-2 Cardiff City



Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as manager got off to a dream start in Newcastle as his side secured victory at St James’ Park for the first time since 1963.

Teams - Newcastle United: Elliot; Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Tiote (c), Anita; Ben Arfa, Sissoko (Shola Ameobi), Gouffran (Obertan), Ciss (Remy). Subs not used: Alnwick, Dummett, Williamson, Sammy Ameobi.

Cardiff City: Marshall; McNaughton, Hudson (C), Turner, John; Whittingham, Kim (Smith), Gunnarsson, Cowie; Odemwingie (Noone), Cornelius (Campbell). Subs not used: Lewis; Caulker, Brayford, Conway.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson

Martin Atkinson began his professional refereeing career at just 16 years of age and has risen through the ranks to become one of the most well respected officials in the Premier League.

He has been a permanent fixture in the Premier League since 2005 and, after refereeing the 2006 FA Community Shield and 2008 FA Trophy Final, his most notable moment in English football came when he took charge of the 2011 FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Stoke City.

Atkinson last officiated a Cardiff City match in March, taking charge in the Bluebirds’ 3-1 win over Fulham at Cardiff City Stadium.

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