When United are on a run like this, there’s really not much to say, partly because there’s little to complain about but mostly, because you don’t want to jinx anything.

This last week or so, praise has been dished out, and rightly so, we criticise when things aren’t acceptable, so we praise and give credit when United start pulling up trees. So, for the clarification, should there be any doubt, the manager, his backroom staff and the players are all worthy of warm applause for their recent efforts. Long may it continue, but this hasn’t just wiped out a truly abject run of form since last January. We’re just judging a portion of fixtures at the minute. We know that if we’re being serious for a minute, the natural place among the pecking order of the Premier League for the current Newcastle United, is 8^th ,behind Everton/Spurs, who I’d say are 6^th and 7^th of “The Big 7.” Southampton are enjoying life and a handy looking side if you’re asking me if they’ve established themselves as a top 7 side, then I’d say “not yet.” Newcastle United should be in the top 8 so when Pardew and all the afore mentioned functions of NUFC produce form that cements our place there, then maybe, we’ll let go of that dreadful run of form and stop questioning whether the right people are in the right jobs at SJP…….

So it’s off to The Hawthorns to take on a Throstles side who are managed by Alan Irvine, who Mags may remember from his services on Tyneside as a coach.

They’re currently 11^th on 13 points and have a home record that reads, played 4, won 1 (Burnley 4-0), Drawn 3 (Man Utd, Sunderland & Crystal Palace 2-2) and lost 1, (Everton 0-2)

The newest, world football revelation, Berahino has 8 goals and has been called into the England squad. Jonas Olsson and Silvestre Varela are injured, Craig Gardner is suspended.

Team News

Gabriel Obertan looks like facing a lay off, at least as long as Siem De Jong’s and Shane Ferguson, despite not having a place in our squad, is now sidelined with medial ligament damage. There’s no new information around Santon’s or De Jong injuries, but neither are expected back anytime soon. With Abeid’s good form, Tiote’s absence has not been so crucial, but he may be back in time for this one.

Injured

Williamson – Knock

De Jong – Groin

Obertan – Groin

Santon – Knee

Good – Groin

Possible Team (4-2-3-1)

1.Krul: 2. Janmaat, 5. S. Taylor, 6.Coloccini (Capt), 3. Dummett: 8. Colback, 4. Abeid: 7. Cabella, 10. Sissoko, 11. Gouffran: 9. Cisse

Subs

Elliot, Tiote, Haidara, Anita, Perez, Aarons, Sammy Ameobi

Referee: Craig Pawson –who may also be WBA’s centre back

League History at The Hawthorns

1984/85 Lost 1-2 With United going through a poor run of form, a Boxing Day trip to the Midlands yielded nothing, with only an Ian Baird goal to show for our efforts. Attendance, 20,248

1985/86 Drew 1-1 Having just been dumped out of the FA cup at home to Brighton, Kenny Wharton helped our ‘concentrating on the league’ with a goal earning us our second point in January. Attendance, 9,100

1989/90 Won 5-1 Now in the second division, we renewed our acquaintances and thrashed them. An OG got us on our merry way, but after Don Goodman pegged us back, Gary Brazil, Kevin Brock, Mark McGhee and Liam O’Brien brought the 3 points back to Tyneside. Attendance, 12,339

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pzciskfdX8 

1990/91 Drew 1-1 We were limping our way to a mid table finish in the second division, with a hangover from the play offs lasting longer than most expected. McGhee had missed chunks of the season to injury but Jim Smith had turned to ill-fated loan moves for the likes of Moran and Gaynor, Even the signing of Gavin Peacock couldn’t keep Smith in his job and he was replaced by Ossie Ardiles in March. Micky Quinn earned us a point but the team were in transition as Ossie drafted in the youths. Attendance, 16,706

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCrKwdCqL-Q

2002/03 Drew 2-2 With the Champion’s League spot secured, a dead rubber match threw up a a diluted affair. The Throstles were already relegated. Jermaine Jenas and Hugo Viana notched for us. Attendance, 27,036

Viana’s free kick after 3 minutes 40 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJkOypS8K4c

2004/05 Drew 0-0 A dull start to the new year. Typical Souness really. Attendance, 25,259

2005/06 Won 3-0 A rare good day under Souness. It was sometimes possible when Shearer and Owen played together to believe the little twat actually liked it here. This was one such day. Owen got 2, Shearer got 1. Attendance, 26,216 (Hideous green strip)

1 minute 35 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04hGDeosHLA

2008/09 Won 3-2 Kinnear in hospital. A crucial win (or so we thought at the time) although we probably didn’t expect to win only 1 more fixture out of 13. Damien Duff and Peter Lovenkrands scored early goals and Steven Taylor gave us some breathing space. Attendance, 25,817 (Hideous purple strip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0YDfGjlBZE

2009/10 Drew 1-1 A crucial opening day point that told the division, “We’re not to be fucked with!” Damien Duff with our second half equaliser. Attendance, 23,502 (Hideous yellow strip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Svda5TlTs

2010/11 Lost 1-3 Danny Guthrie’s time to check out as a Mag. Hughton’s too. This was an awful showing. Having followed an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at Bolton in our last away fixture, something had to be done, and it was. Peter Lovenkrands poked in a consolation. Attendance, 23,486

2011/12 Won 3-1 We were flying at this point and everything Cisse hit was flying in to the back of the net. Attendance, 25,049

Cisse 2 on 2 mins 20  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uucjvstiavw

Ben Arfa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iXigKaL93k

2012/13 Drew 1-1 Still scrapping to fight off relegation, Gouffran put us in front, only for Billy Jones to equalise. Attendance, 25,671

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRvsdOCl0eQ

2013/14 Lost 1-0 Late disaster as United were reduced to 10 men and conceded a penalty with 3 minutes to go. Attendance, 26,430.

WBA  Fanzines

Boing http://www.baggies.com/

Albion til we Die http://www.albiontillwedie.co.uk/fans/fanzines.html

Prediction

Hoping our good run continues, but no-one would be surprised if, in true, Newcastle United tradition, the wheels came off.

CHRIS BETTS