Premier League Preview: Stoke Vs Newcastle

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Football fans at the Britannia Stadium are due to celebrate Premier League match time on Saturday, March 19, when Stoke host Newcastle in match week 30.

The game is the second of a two-legged encounter, with the very first having been hosted by Newcastle on September 26, 2010. That match ended two-1 in the visitors' favour.

Kenwyne Jones, Stoke eight million pound signing, disappointed in the initial half but far more than produced up soon after the interval to lead Stoke to an away win at St James's Park. The decision to continue with the Trinidad and Tobago striker right after the interval paid wealthy dividend when Jones scored the equaliser for the Potters 7 minutes after the hour.

Earlier, the Magpies took the lead in the first half, when Nolan scored off a penalty on 43 minutes. Stoke' match winner came with 5 minutes of regulation time to go, off an own goal by Perch.

On the day, Newcastle were undone by Stoke's aerial power finest exemplified by Jones himself who got his goal via a header, apart from a couple of other headers that hit the woodwork. Newcastle were hard-pressed to cope with Stoke's set-pieces, as their defence grew increasingly shambolic as the Potters rauised the ante in the second half. In contrast, Stoke's back-line absorbed every little thing the Magpies could throw at them, specifically by their talismanic striker Carroll who came close to scoring an equaliser.

Head to head, the sides have met 5 times in the league and won 1 game every single.

In their last 8 league games, this season, Stoke have registered 2 wins and 6 losses, while Newcastle have won two of their last 8, while losing two and drawing the remaining 4. Of their 14 residence games, Stoke have woin 7 and lost 4 though drawing the rmeianing three Newcastle have won five of 14 games on the road, whilst losing 6 and drawing the remaining three.

In match week 29, Stoke lost 3- away at West Ham Newcastle lost 2-1 at home to Everton.

On present form, anticipate this to be a hard-fought game, with Stoke getting a slight edge owing to playing prior to residence fans.

Stoke's starting eleven against West Ham had the following players: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Pugh, Pennat, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Walters, and Carew. Jones, Fuller and Etherington had been used as substitutes.

Newcastle had the following males in their starting eleven against Everton: Harper, Taylor, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Simpson,Tiote, Nolan, Guttierez, Best and Lovenkrands. Ameobi, Kuqi and Ferguson featured as substitutes.