MATCH PREVIEW - NEWCASTLE

City welcome the Magpies to CCS on Saturday

Cardiff City v Newcastle United
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Saturday, 5th October, KO 3pm
Match-tag:#CARNEW (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

The Bluebirds’ welcome Newcastle United back to Cardiff City Stadium for a first competitive fixture between the two sides in three years.

MATCH FACTS

- Should he score against his former side, Craig Bellamy will become the first player in the history of the Barclays Premier League to score for seven different clubs in the competition.
- Newcastle have won just three of their last 23 Barclays Premier League away matches, losing 13 of these fixtures.
- No side have had more goals scored in the 90th minute or later of their Barclays Premier League matches this season than Cardiff (three).
- The Welsh side have committed only 50 fouls in their six Premier League games so far; a league-low figure.

KEY PLAYER – Hatem Ben Arfa



A match winner in every way, Newcastle spark Hatem Ben Arfa has showed hints of his very best form so far this campaign with a late winner against Fulham and strike against Villa helping to bring both of Newcastle’s victories in the Premier League so far this season.

After joining the club from Marseille in 2010, a leg-break kept the French International for over a year but has nonetheless made 59 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.

IN-FORM PLAYER- Loic Remy



The loan signing of QPR front man Loic Remy looks to be an inspired bit of business by the Magpies having scored three goals in their last two Premier League games, also providing an assist.

In fact, Remy has an excellent scoring ratio in the Premier League since joining QPR in the top flight in January, scoring 9 goals in 18 top-flight appearances so far working out as a ratio of one goal every two games.

RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):

Newcastle United: WWWLWL
Last time out - Everton 3-2 Newcastle United – Monday, 30th September, Barclays Premier League.

A first-half brace from Everton home debutant Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley strike saw the Magpies go into half-time 3-0 down at Goodison Park on Monday night. Alan Pardew’s men mounted a brace second-half fight back as Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy pulled the Magpies back within one but they couldn’t find that all important equaliser to take a share of the spoils.

Team - Newcastle United: Krul; Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (Williamson 46), Coloccini (c), Santon; Anita (Cisse 69), Tiote, Sissoko; Gouffran, Remy, Ben Arfa (Cabaye 46). Subs not used: Elliot, Dummett, Obertan, Sa Ameobi.

Cardiff City:  LWWDDW
Last time out – Fulham 1-2 Cardiff City-


Saturday, 28th September, Barclays Premier League
A last minute stunner from substitute Jordon Mutch earned a first away Premier League victory for the Bluebirds and secured a second victory over the season.
 
Steven Caulker headed the Bluebirds in front in the first-half after an excellent start for City, before substitute Bryan Ruiz pulled Fulham level before half-time.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Turner, Caulker (C), Taylor; Medel, Gunnarsson, Odemwingie (Bellamy), Whittingham, Kim (Mutch), Campbell (Maynard). Subs not used: Lewis; Hudson, Noone, Cowie.

LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING:
2009-10 Championship, St James’ Park, Friday 5th February 2010 – Newcastle United 5-1 Cardiff City



A first-half brace from frontman Andy Carroll and a Gabor Gyepes own-goal put the Magpies in charge of this encounter before half-time before a Peter Lovenkrands double completed a comprehensive victory for the league leaders as Newcastle took a step closer to an instant return to the top flight. Aaron Wildig’s first senior goal proved to be nothing more than a late consolation.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton, Gyepes, Gerrard, Blake, Matthews (Kennedy 46), Whittingham, McPhail (Wildig 75), Chopra, Bothroyd (Burke 30), McCormack. Subs not used: Enckelman, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney.

REFEREE: Kevin Friend

Leicester-based Kevin Friend has been a member of the Select Group of referees since the 2009/10 season, after a successful career outside of the top flight.

Friend took up refereeing as a 14-year-old and plied his trade in local football and Midlands leagues before he started to progress through the Football League pyramid. Prior to his appearance in the Premier League, he was regularly officiating in the Championship.

Alongside numerous high profile Premier League appointments, Friend’s most notable honour so far came when he took charge of the 2012 FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Chelsea.

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