Stoke City (a)

Saturday morning 8.30am (3.30am ET), we at Beyewatch cannot remember a time that we've been so nervous for a game of football. Last weeks defeat to Chelsea showed us the frailties that we have. 2-0 at home to one of the best teams in Europe is by no means an embarrassment but in past seasons we may have been able to hold on for a valuable point, this season we never really looked like doing so.

Fast forward seven days and we have a totally different proposition in Stoke City. Their record at the Britannia stadium is almost top four material which is the main reason they find themselves almost safe, it's only down to an appalling record away from Stoke that leaves them flirting with danger. Until last weeks long awaited away win at West Brom, Stoke had only picked up four away points one of which was won at St James' Park. It's dropped points such as that game and others such as Wigan that have left us in serious trouble at the wrong end of the table.

Shearer has the task of turning our fortunes today, if he does and Man Utd do as they hopefully should down the road we could be out of the bottom three which will be a huge confidence boost when the players and fans alike look at the league table after Match of the Day. We are hoping for Bassong to be fit which will be a huge boost to the defence, however news that Enrique will miss out is a worry for the left back slot, a position which has been short of cover for more than 4 years now - quite unbelievable for a Premier league football club. News of a Guthrie injury in the reserves in midweek were another blow but it seems his withdrawal was only precautionary and he should be ok. Habib Beye will hope to start at Right Back, he missed a days training with a knock earlier in the week but with injuries as they are it's possible he could line up anywhere along the back four. Today of all days we need our defence to stand firm, the fans need to get behind the lads and push us on. We need the strikers to find some confidence and find the back of the net it's all or nothing - we all know it.

Everyone and anyone to do with the Newcastle United are only thinking of three points today but the size of the task in hand is far bigger then just turning up and hoping for luck, you have to earn your points at Stoke. The luck we hope for must come from elsewhere otherwise we could find ourselves six points adrift come 7.30pm tonight (2.30pm ET), and I'm afraid to say that that will be curtains on the Premier League for Newcastle United and we'll be heading into the unknown, possibly towards financial ruin and coming back next time will be harder than ever before believe me.

Lets hope we win today!