With a bit of luck, which is rarely to be seen coming to our side for the last ten years, Kevin Keegan has the plan to securing Newcastle’s first silverware since the last time we have any in 1969.

“It is one of two chances, if we are honest,” KK said in a pre-match interview before the League Cup away match to Coventry City. “We can win the FA Cup and we can win the Carling Cup.”

Newcastle record in the League Cup was not too impressive. The last time we reach the semi-finals was back in 1976. But there’s always hope and the Toon Army has plenty of that.

Newcastle team news ahead of today’s match saw Keegan could be without Oba Martins who suffers another groin injury in the match against Bolton last Saturday. Damien Duff also have knee problem. But skipper Michael Owen is set to start after scoring match-winning goal against the Trotters.

Meanwhile, Coventry City will be without keeper Kieran Westwood who suffered a dislocated thumb during their Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bristol City.

Newcastle away record against Coventry
2000/01: 2-0 (Shearer, Gallacher)
1999/00:1-4 (Domi)
1998/99: 5-1 (Shearer 2, Dabizas, Speed, Glass)
1997/98: 2-2 (Barnes, Lee)
1996/97: 1-2 (Shearer)
1995/96:1-0 (Watson)
1994/95: 0-0
1993/94:1-2 (o.g. Atherton)

But today, more than 50,000 genuine Toon fans will cheer them up and give massive roars when they coming out from St. James’s Park tunnel, with only one mission to complete which is to beat the Trotters and get the first three points of the season.

Keegan will be hopefully to have the Magpies skipper ready to make his debut of the year after being cleared to play, but it’s look like Michael Owen will be drop in the bench. Steven Taylor who has a slight ankle problem from the OT game, also fit again to pair with Argentine Coloccini in our central defense, while Mark Viduka is still need at least two weeks away from achilles injury to make his first-team return.

Last season match against them at St. James’ saw Keegan’s first game in charge resulting only goalles draw, but the situation will completely different this season. The Lads are in the good mood to continue performing well.

And for our new boys, Coloccini, Gutierrez and Danny this is their first appearance for Toon in our homeland in a real competitive match, especially for Coloccini. Having saw the impressive 12,000 Toon Army coming to see them in training, they will feel the great-great atmosphere of a full house St. James’s Park this afternoon.

Our Premierships records against the Trotters are quite impressive, with 6 wins, 2 draws and only one defeat in 2006-2007 season. The most notable win over them is in the 1997-1998 match when Ketsbaia scores the winning goal and make a massive celebration that every real Toon fans will always remember, great player!

Newcastle United vs Bolton Wanderers – Premiership Years
2007/08: 0-0
2006/07: 1-2 (Ameobi)
2005/06: 3-1 (Solano, Shearer, Ameobi)
2004/05: 2-1 (Bowyer, Dyer)
2003/04: 0-0
2002/03: 1-0 (Jenas)
2001/02: 3-2 (Shearer 2, Bellamy)
1997/98: 2-1 (Barnes, Ketsbaia)
1995/96: 2-1 (Kitson, Beardsley)

No Baye, no other right back at the club. This state of affairs is 100% as stupid as a drunk at the wheel of a ten ton truck. What are the alternatives, I’ll tell you. A body keeping it simple, a body who cannot play the position, a body who’s confidence will be diminished! The crowd slagging the body off and no right wing axis with the person playing in front of him. No chance of changing tactics because the body won’t be able to play possession football or effectively overlap. Good organised sides will most definitely exploit this weakness.

Bassong, Taylor, Faye Capaca in the middle with one of them at full back. With second half substitutions any old combo is likely to be thrown together.

Enrique, Duff, N’Zogbia at left back and left side of midfield. Hopefully two of these three might provide something? Enrique has supposedly lost weight, I hope it’s not another Bernard scenario.

Spidergadgy, and Guthrie will play I’m sure. This will be very interesting; I’ll not be able to heap the full bucket of crapola on NUFC until I see these two with my own eyes. Hopefully the two of them will get right into it and will be able to perform with the likes of Butt and Milner and our other midfield stars.

Scoring goals, we don’t have anybody suitable to play as a forward? Whoever is picked will be mocked and abused.

PSV are going for their fifth straight win and are a class act. I’ll be curious to read if anybody is feeling anymore optomistic and less poisonous than me?

Without Mark Viduka (Achilles), Joey Barton (bail conditions), James Milner (foot) and Emre, we will have short options in midfield and one target man up front. I prefer we start with Carrol and Martins rather than let Smith making trouble from the start.

This last fixture of the season could be the last chance for N’Zogbia to proven he’s still worth to be include in Keegan next season rebuilding plans. If we want this such ‘talent’ to stay, I think we better let him start the game, so he can feel still needed by his gaffer and useful for the team.

For the home side, Mikael Arteta (stomach), Tim Cahill (foot) and James Vaughan (knee) are all still missing. But to be honest, they have wonderful home record against us in the last three seasons under the previous managers. We have losts there three times in 2004/05 lost 2-0, 2005/06 lost 1-0 and in 2006/07 lost 3-0.

Our last win there was back in 2001/02 season with goals from Bellamy, Solano and Clarence Acuna. Keegan’s record there while managing United were also not too impressive. Our first 2-0 win there in premierships years was in season 1993/94 thanks to goals from Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley.

Referee for this match is Peter Walton who also incharge in our two away defeats at Derby County and Liverpool, could this will be our third under his command? I hope not!

Below is our complete Premierships record at Goodison Park:
2006/07: 0-3
2005/06: 0-1
2004/05: 0-2
2003/04: 2-2 Shearer 2 (2 pens)
2002/03: 1-2 Robert
2001/02: 3-1 Bellamy, Solano, Acuna
2000/01: 1-1 Unsworth og
1999/00: 2-0 Hughes, Dyer
1998/99: 0-1
1997/98: 0-0
1997/98: 1-0 Rush (FA Cup)
1996/97: 0-2
1995/96: 3-1 Ferdinand, Lee, Kitson
1994/95: 0-1 (FA Cup)
1994/95: 0-2
1993/94: 2-0 Cole, Beardsley

I hope everyone will have the same high spirited passion as what Harper has said, “If anybody is under-estimating what relegation would do for this club, he shouldn’t be here. We know we are in a battle.”

To be honest, I also have a little bit of fear to see that most of our regular first team squad this year has the experience of relegation and it will have some bad effects to their mentality regarding to the situation we’re in these days.

Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and James Milner all have been went down once with Leeds, while Damien Duff was relegated with Blackburn. When being out for loan, Nicky Butt suffered the drop with Birmingham. Our new signing Habib Beye was also experienced the dropped with Strasbourg.

So now, they’re supposed to do all their best to avoid the same experience to happened with Newcastle United. Sad to admit that some of them were actually the weakness part of United squad through a season long.

“We have five tough away games, and this one is the biggest game in the club’s recent history,” Harper continued, “It’s the biggest game we’ve had for a long, long time. There’s always pressure at this place and everybody knows it’s a pressure cooker – more than at any other club. Every game is a big game at this club, but the Birmingham match is absolutely massive.”

Howay the Lads!!! Up the Toon!!!