Boss challenges cup flops to strike back

The clash between the London rivals was a heated and controversial one, resulting in a fallout that has continued in the intervening week.

Riding a three-match winning streak into the North East, though, beating the Blues is much more daunting now than it might have been a matter of weeks ago. The problem for Steve McLaren’s men have been that they just have been unable to finish and finish games off. There are no easy matches in this league and that’s we have got to stay focused.

Chelsea can send out a signal of intent if they are to find a big win this weekend, but they cannot afford to be complacent as it is a fixture which throws out unlikely results. There’s one outside that list, but good for him. He cannot achieve, keep his job, still be the king. “It’s a privilege”.

Newcastle United will face Chelsea at St. James’ Park in the Premier League this evening.

A struggling Newcastle United side will be looking for their first win of the 2015-16 English Premier League season when they host last year’s champions, Chelsea.

Loic Remy could get the nod ahead of Radamel Falcao to start up front after scoring during a 4-1 League Cup victory over Walsall in midweek.

McClaren had previously called on the Newcastle fans to show “blind faith and belief” that the club will turn their form around but their woeful start continued with the defeat to second division Sheffield Wednesday.

“We don’t have the time nor the inclination to feel sorry for ourselves”. Since last November this club has won five in 32.

“We are changing a lot”. “Some people do not like change but they have to go through it and it is painful at times as it has been”. “We apologise to you for this”.

Howey though is concerned about the manner in which Newcastle have collapsed against their opponents this season, sensing an unacceptable lack of fight.

Aleksander Mitrovic was brought to Newcastle this summer to score goals, but his name has ended up in the referee’s book more often than on the scoresheet. It would be a huge surprise, though, were that record to be extended on Saturday.

Back Chelsea to win at 4/6 as a base investment; however, the fact that 6 of these sides’ last 8 matches have been won to nil indicates that backing an away win to nil is a tempting bet at 15/8.