I Couldn't Have Put It Better Myself

Barnsley manager Mark Robins told the club's official website that the Reds have to go to St. James` Park and "take the bull by the horns." What an appropriate analogy that is.

Only three teams remain now with an unbeaten home record in the football league this season. Huddersfield Town and Manchester City are two. We`re playing the other tomorrow at their place.

Of the seventeen home games so far this season, Newcastle have won thirteen and drawn the rest, plundering 37 goals along the way, more than two per game and conceding just eight.

Newcastle, to concur with Mr Robins` analogy, are like a bull in a china shop, laying waste to this league. They are nailed on for promotion back to the Premier League. That`s undisputed.

Taking away Blackpool`s unbeaten home record in December is one thing, but beating the league leaders after seventeen games unbeaten at a 55,000 seater stadium is another. The bookies are putting us at 6/1, our longest odds for a match this season and the very reason I`ll be taking up the bet. We were 4/1 to beat Cardiff away but that came through, along with Boggy to score first at 8/1. I toasted Daniel at the slap up meal I bought with the winnings.

Basically we can go there and roll over like a sick dog or we can play our game, nick a goal or two and stand firm. With our scoring record under Robins, having failed to score just four times out of 28 league games, I`m backing us to get on the score sheet. We just need to defend. Easier said than done.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Barnsley

What? What do you mean I`m crazy?

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