Has everyone sobered up after Friday’s absolutely brilliant night? I’m not sure I have like. Friday’s performance was exactly what we have been begging for. What we witnessed that night was a Newcastle United squad crush a side who genuinely fancy their chances of contesting promotion. It is that level of performance which clearly indicates what we are capable of in this division and when we don’t hit these heights it is the disappointment of knowing we are capable of better which flattens the mood. Credit goes to everyone involved in Friday’s performance, that’s from the back room staff to the players who produced the goods. On a similar note the performance of the fans was at us at our best. Did extra beer contribute? If so then I’ll try to get it mandatory that everyone has 16 pints before every game. I can remember last season when Derek Llambias approached NUSC (as it was then) with some corny ideas to improve the SJP atmosphere. Well Dekka, it looks like a canny sup and a top notch team is the combo to get SJP fuckin’ rockin.’
Of course the very nature of this division is for sides to unexpectedly come unstuck.
With Derby County’s 0-0 draw at SJP still lurking in the memory Tuesday would be an ideal opportunity to put in the same application at Pride Park and grab the 3 points this time.

It seems we have genuine competition for places for the 10 outfield places. Probably only Simpson, Routledge and Gutierrez are certs for their positions every week as their places have little alternative of quality. So here’s hoping that this strikes a chord with the strikers who will be judged on goal returns. Skola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Andy Carroll have similar returns this season and with Best brought in to see us over the line, the challenge goes out to stick the white inflatable thingy into the stringy rectangle at a healthy ratio. By the way, that is exactly the way it should be. Players picked on form.

Nigel Clough’s Derby County then, they have had a right up and down season. They have lost 14 games already this season and currently sit 7th bottom. Their home form indicates that they either win or lose. 7 wins and 6 defeats from 14 games. Their Pride Park schedule opened with 2-1 wins over Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle, but September saw them lose to Sheffield United (0-1) and Barnsley (2-3) before they got back to winning ways against Bristol City (1-0). October was up and down, a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday was followed up with a 2-4 reverse at the hands of Q.P.R. 2 November 2-1 wins Vs. Coventry City and Reading were blown away by 2-0 defeats to Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool, although there was also a December 2-2 draw with W.B.A. Since then Scunthorpe United have smacked them out of sight (1-4) but after beating Doncaster Rovers (1-0) they recorded their best result to date, a 1-0 home win over derby rivals Nottingham Forest. We are up next. Rob Hulse is their chief goal threat with 7. A fit Kris Commons and the on loan Michael Tongue are their creative players.


TEAM NEWS

Injured

Steven Taylor - Knee
Joey Barton - Foot
Haris Vuckic - Knee
Jose Enrique - Hamstring

Doubts

Alan Smith - Thigh
Fabricio Coloccini - Hamstring
Danny Simpson - Leg

Suspensions

None

Formation

I’d have absolutely no problem with a ‘same again’ side sent out. Surely we can dispense with the defensive approach. There simply is not a side in this division who demand it.

Possible: 4-4-2

Harper: Simpson, Williamson, Hall, van Aanhort: Routledge, Smith (Capt), Guthrie, Gutierrez: Nolan, Carroll:

Bench: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Best, Butt, Lovenkrands, Ameobi, Kadar.

Form

Still got Friday in my system, so it’s ‘spectacular.’

Expectations

Looking at what Nottingham Forest and W.B.A. have coming up, we’ll need the 3 points. Here’s hoping we’ll take them.

Opposition Danger Man

Kris Commons

Love To Hate

Robbie Savage for far too many reasons to mention right now.

Referee

Anthony Taylor (Manchester)

Chris Betts