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Match Preview: Newcastle vs Chelsea
By Jonny Hall 07 May 2006
Newcastle's final game of the season takes place this afternoon with the Magpies looking to make it through the back door into the UEFA Cup.
A win would see Newcastle definately finish 7th place which would mean a place in the Intertoto but since we are playing the champions and Bolton are right up our backsides, it's not that simple.
Possible Scenarios:
If Bolton lose to Birmingham - Newcastle can lose, draw or win against Chelsea and they would get 7th place.
If Bolton draw with Birmingham - Newcastle can lose, draw or win against Chelsea and they would get 7th place.
If Bolton win against Birmingham - Newcastle will have to win against Chelsea to get 7th place.
Squads:
Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Carr, Ramage, Bramble, Moore, Boumsong, Taylor, Elliott, Babayaro, Solano, N'Zogbia, Emre, Faye, Clark, Pattison, Brittain, O'Brien, Luque, Owen, Ameobi, Chopra.
Michael Owen faces a late fitness test while Emre is expected to return to the starting lineup. Steven Taylor may play some part while Parker and Bowyer are definately out. This was supposed to be Shearer's last game in the Premiership but he still sits out with knee ligament problems.
Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Pidgeley, Johnson, Ferreira, Carvalho, Huth, Gallas, Del Horno, Maniche, Diarra, Geremi, Gudjohnsen, Robben, J Cole, Duff, Wright-Phillips, Crespo, C Cole.
With the title already wrapped up, Chelsea can afford to drop players. Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Petr Cech and Claude Makelele are all left in London while John Terry nurses an ankle injury.
Caretaker manager Glenn Roeder:
"It seems crazy that in early February we were playing Portsmouth and if we didn't win, we could have been dragged into a relegation battle.
"Had Portsmouth beaten us, they would have closed the gap to two points. But by beating them, the gap went to eight.
"Now here we are talking about Europe."
Chelsea winger Arjen Robben:
"The last game is always a good game. It's also a chance to say goodbye to Alan Shearer - it's a shame he isn't playing.
"We want to end the season well and we just want to make it a good game.
"St James' Park is a great stadium, great atmosphere, it's always full and I think it's going to be a very nice game."
Prediction
I think that Bolton are definately going to beat Birmingham which means that we need to beat Chelsea to get 7th. I must have hit my head because I'm going to say 2-1 Newcastle with Solano and Owen getting our goals. |
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