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Good morning- hope everyone in the States got their time change accomplished with minimal fuss or injury. On the bright side, I have just realized that the time change means that the derby kickoff will be 5:45 for me instead of 4:45, so there's that.
Today we have everyone's favorite purveyors of ugly football coming for a visit to St. James' Park. Will Newcastle be able to continue their largely positive momentum displayed in the post-January schedule so far? Will Stoke in fact out long-ball Newcastle for a change this season? These questions and more answered in just a half an hour (give or take.)
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran; Cisse
Newcastle bench: Harper, Haidara, Perch, Anita, Obertan, Marveaux, Campbell
Stoke City (hoof-hoof-hoof): Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross (c), Wilson, Wilkinson; Shotton, Whelan, Nzonzi, Walters; Jerome, Crouch
So - HBA is out with the supposed dead leg he suffered mid-week v. Anzhi, Shola has missed the bench and Adam Campbell is on in his place. Steve Harper makes a rare appearance on the bench. Here's hoping we can survive the Newcastle-wrecking force that is Cameron Jerome. Here. We. Go.