Newcastle vs Chelsea: Preview

Saturday 12.45pm, St James’ Park

Newcastle 7/2 Draw 3/1 Chelsea Evens

Cheik Tiote is again ruled out for Newcastle, while Sylvain Marveaux is sidelined until at least January – Leon Best returns though.

Chelsea captain John Terry has controversially served his one-game suspension and returns to lead the side, and the visitors have no fresh injury concerns.

7/2 on Newcastle? First impressions are that that’s a little bit high. A stuttering and unconvincing Chelsea traveling to a hostile ground where the hosts are in extremely good form – it’s brave money that takes the visitors on an outright win.

Much has been made of Andre Villas-Boas tactical ‘failings’ – or at least his stubborness in trying to change so much so soon – but do Newcastle have the firepower to exploit the transitional phase that his side are subsequently enduring?

Didier Drogba will presumably start again for Chelsea, as Fernando Torres still shows no signs of emerging from his malaise, and it will be interesting to see how Newcastle’s full-backs handle the pass and craft of Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata – Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor have been unsung heroes this season, but this will be one of their biggest tests to date.

I’d like to see Alan Pardew set his side up to have a real go at Chelsea. All across that backline they’re vulnerable – so hopefully Leon Best’s availability will mean a starting two up front. Two of Chelsea’s three losses this season have been against sides that have attacked them – Arsenal and Liverpool – and that’s very much blueprint for success. Out of form or not, you still can’t afford to play passively against this team.

Chiek Tiote is a big loss here, because he was the proverbial blanket to throw over Frank Lampard, but I still think Newcastle have enough to take something from this – maybe look at the home side on a draw no bet at 5/2.

Newcastle 2-1.