AFC Wimbledon (h) Forwarding/resale now
Everton (a) SOLD OUT
Brighton (h) Forwarding/resale now
Chelsea (a) ST sale now, 35 points

2024/25:
Made the Geordies sing

Newcastle  1  Manchester City  1  

A second half penalty conversion by Anthony Gordon gave Newcastle a deserved point against the reigning Premier League champions at Gallowgate on Saturday.  

Gordon led the line for United in the absence of toe injury victim Alexander Isak and won the spot kick when caught by City goalkeeper Ederson, coolly dispatching his effort into the Leazes End net. 

The visitors got their noses in front ten minutes before the end of a closely-contested first half of few scoring chances - Jack Grealish evading Kieran Trippier and finding Josko Gvardiol in the box, who wrong-footed Dan Burn before rolling a low effort inside Nick Pope's far post.

The most cohesive 45 minutes of the season for Eddie Howe's side almost ended on a positive note in added time when Ederson did well to block's Joelinton shot. 

A measure of United manager's satisfaction with what he'd seen though came as the same line-up began the second period - in stark contrast to wholesale changes made during the interval at both Wolves and Fulham.

And that confidence was repaid when Gordon burst into the box to reach Bruno's perfectly-weighted through ball, tempting Ederson into contact and tumbling over.

Barnes then narrowly failed to reach one dangerous centre from Gordon as the Magpies sought to exploit the lift that the equaliser gave both team and crowd. 

Momentum began to sway back towards the visitors however, Pope punching the ball away to keep Haaland at bay before the Premier League's top scorer failed to keep a header down on what was becoming an ever-more frustrating afternoon for him.

Substitute Sean Longstaff almost made a sensational introduction when dragging his shot agonisingly wide of the far post, before Pope did well to deny Bernado Silva an added time winner. 

Groans that had greeted the announcement of seven additional minutes betrayed the fact that City had regained the initiative, but in truth they never quite clicked and Newcastle kept them at bay without needing to resort to obvious time-wasting or gamesmanship.

Had the penalty - or an equaliser - not arrived, then the committed home performance would have provided crumbs of comfort from defeat, at least in terms of showing characteristics missing in previous games.

As it was though, something more tangible was evident from the start, with greater momentum and a clear strategy of looking to spring the City defence with balls into the space behind Gvardiol - Kieran Trippier and Jacob Murphy both attuned to that eventuality. 

Gordon's goal and the point earned were also a deserved return for a performance from United's number 10 far more akin to last season than this - harrying opponents constantly in a makeshift striking role.

In the aftermath of the surrender at Fulham, this game looked to be a daunting task. In the event though, City's visit to Tyneside was opportune; their status inspiring us to step things up and their own lack of a ruthless streak meaning that our shortcomings weren't truly exploited.

More to follow....

Team: Pope, Trippier (Livramento 78), Hall, Schar, Burn, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali (Longstaff 77), J.Murphy, Barnes (Willock 76), Gordon.
Subs n/u: Dubravka, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, A.Murphy.

Booked: Schar, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton.

Goal: Gordon 58pen.

MCFC: Ederson, Gvardiol, Akanji, Ruben Dias, Walker, Kovacic, Lewis (Savinho 81), Grealish (Doku 81), Gundogan (Foden 66), Bernado Silva, Haaland.
Subs n/u: Carson, McAtee, Nunes, Ortega, Stones.

Booked: Ederson, Kovacic, Grealish, Ruben Dias.

Goal: Gvardiol 35.

Crowd: 52,248

Eddie Howe said:

"It was a really good performance from us. We committed, we were brave. 

"Anthony Gordon epitomised that spirit and determination to be aggressive. I thought the work he got through was really impressive. Big, long-distance runs prove he is getting back to his best in terms of fitness levels. The team backed that up."

"That's our best display of the season, no doubt, with and without the ball. Really good signs for us."

On the penalty decision for Gordon: 

"He's clipped, and going at that speed that's all it takes to go down."

Referee: Jarred Gillett - Australian-born official last encountered in February, when presiding over our FA Cup Fifth Round visit to Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle advancing via a penalty shootout.

Gillett's most recent appointment to a game at SJP was the Premier League "six goal thriller" against Manchester City back in August 2022.   

VAR: Stuart Attwell

Latest PL results/fixtures: 

Sat 28.09.2024:
Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City
Brentford 1-1 West Ham
Chelsea v Brighton 4-2 Hove Albion
Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham
Wolves 1-2 Liverpool

Sun 29.09.2024:
Ipswich Town v Aston Villa (2pm) Sky
Manchester United v Spurs (4.30pm) Sky

Mon 30.09.2024:
Bournemouth v Southampton (8pm) Sky

Stats: 

Newcastle are now unbeaten at home in the Premier League in 12 games, since a 2-3 defeat by Manchester City on Tyneside back in January 2024.

11 points from their opening six games of the PL season is Newcastle's best return at this stage since 2011/12, when they had collected 12.

Seven points from their opening three PL home games is United's best start since 1995/96 when they had nine and the most since also reaching seven in 2012/13.

Anthony Gordon's second goal of the season was his 14th in the Premier League for Newcastle, taking him level with Joe Willock, one behind Fabian Schar and two short of Bruno Guimaraes.

Citizens in Toon - PL era:

2024/25 Drew 1-1 Gordon (pen)
2023/24 Lost 2-3 Isak, Gordon
2023/24 Won 1-0 Isak (LC)
2022/23 Drew 3-3 Almiron, Wilson, Trippier
2021/22 Lost 0-4
2020/21 Lost 3-4 Krafth, Joelinton (pen), Willock
2019/20 Lost 0-2 (FAC)
2019/20 Drew 2-2 Willems, Shelvey
2018/19 Won 2-1 Rondon, Ritchie (pen)
2017/18 Lost 0-1
2015/16 Drew 1-1 Anita
2014/15 Lost 0-2
2013/14 Lost 0-2
2013/14 Lost 0-2 (LC)
2012/13 Lost 1-3 Ba
2011/12 Lost 0-2
2010/11 Lost 1-3 Carroll
2008/09 Drew 2-2 Ameobi, og(Dunne)
2007/08 Lost 0-2
2006/07 Lost 0-1
2005/06 Won 1-0 Owen
2004/05 Won 4-3 Robert, Shearer, Elliott, Bellamy
2003/04 Won 3-0 Shearer 2, Ameobi
2002/03 Won 2-0 Shearer, Bellamy
2001/02 Won 1-0 Solano (FAC)
2000/01 Lost 0-1
1995/96 Won 3-1 Ferdinand 2, Beardsley
1994/95 Drew 0-0
1994/95 Won 3-1 Gillespie 2, Beresford (FA)
1994/95 Lost 0-2 (LC)
1993/94 Won 2-0 Cole 2

2024/25:
Loan lads

Current Magpies making temporary switches:

Jamal Lewis (Sao Paulo)
A night on the bench for Jamal, who wasn't called upon as his side drew 1-1 at home to Botafogo in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday before losing on penalties.

Harrison Ashby (QPR)
Scoreless at the interval but with the R's down to ten men after a red card, Harrison came on for the second half. However he was unable to prevent a 0-2 loss at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday.

Joe White (MK Dons)
It finished 1-1 at Bromley in League Two on Saturday, with Joe an 88th minute arrival from the bench. Both goals had come in the first half.

Max Thompson (Chesterfield)
The goalkeeper watched a 3-0 win at Doncaster Rovers in League Two on Saturday from the bench.

Miodrag Pivas (Willem II)
fixture tbc (work permit still awaited)

Jamie Miley (Newport County) (injured)

U18s:
Mersey win for Teens

Liverpool U18s  2  Newcastle U18s  3  

The bottom two sides in the Northern section of U18 Premier League met on Saturday, with Newcastle winning for the first time this season.

A brace from Ethan Ndiweni and Joe Brayson's spot kick conversion were enough to claim all three points at Kirkby against the basement-dwelling Reds, for whom Kareem Ahmed netted twice.

Ndiweni put the Magpies ahead on 31 minutes with a close range finish, only for Ahmed to level from similar range seven minutes before the break.

After Liverpool's Joe Bradshaw missed a 49th minute penalty, a second goal from Ndiweni then restored United's lead on 53 minutes - racing onto Brayson's through ball before finishing well.

Brayson then converted a penalty before the hour to make it 3-1 after Guy Bloomer was impeded in the box.

Ahmed quickly replied to set up a nervous finale, but visiting goalkeeper Will Anderson denied the 17 year-old his hat-trick with a decent late stop.

Newcastle then preserved their lead through seven minutes of added time to claim three points at Liverpool for the second successive season.

Team: Anderson, Bloomer, Morgan, Watts, Craggs, Gilligan, Wooster, M.Miley (Best 70), Ferreira (Old 90), Brayson (Patterson 90), Ndiweni (Johnson 73). 
Sub n/u: Jones

Booked: Johnson

U21s:
Turner prize winner

Newcastle U21s  2  Blackburn Rovers U21s  0

Jay Turner-Cooke's brace secured a first home win of the season in PL2 for Newcastle U21s on Friday, giving Diarmuid O'Carroll a winning start as Magpies coach. 

United took to the field at Whitley Park with 17 year-old full back Leo Shahar captaining the side - one of eight players retained from last week's 0-1 loss to West Ham. 

Rovers arrived pointless after their opening four games and fell behind on 17 minutes; Alfie Harrison's right wing cross headed down by Ben Parkinson for Turner-Cooke to smash into the roof of the net from close range.

Thirteen minutes later Turner-Cooke got his second with a drive from the edge of the box that Jack Barrett couldn't keep out of the bottom corner of the goal.

Harrison was unable to keep his first-time shot down as United came close to a third shortly after the break, but failed to trouble Barrett for the rest of the evening. 

Blackburn proved to be similarly inaccurate, with a succession of balls played across the Magpies box going harmlessly out of play - home 'keeper Aidan Harris equal to one goalbound effort from Aodhan Doherty.   

Team: Harris, Shahar, Charlton, Munda (Stanton 60), Thompson, McArthur, Harrison (Donaldson 69), Hernes, Parkinson, Turner-Cooke, Sanusi (Emerson 60).
Subs n/u: Heffernan, Jones.

Booked: Munda, Hernes, Stanton.

BRFC: Barrett, Murphy-Worrell, R.Doherty, Olson, Atcheson, Edmondson, A.Doherty (Bell 60), O'Grady-Macken, Mafoumbi (Caddick 60), Biniek, Bloxham (Stritch 69).
Subs: Honor, Powell.

Booked: Caddick, Doherty.

Referee: Ben Wyatt

Crowd: 209.

Latest:
Eales bombshell

From Newcastle United, Friday:

Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales is to step down from his position after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.

Darren will continue to lead Newcastle United's executive team until a successor is appointed.

Darren arrived at St. James' Park in August 2022 - ten months after the club's change in ownership - and has played a critical role in a significant period of progression on and off the pitch.

During his tenure, as well as reaching a first domestic cup final in 24 years in February 2023, the Magpies returned to the UEFA Champions League last season after a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

Darren Eales said: "Being CEO of Newcastle United is an extraordinary privilege and I am incredibly proud to be part of the club's exciting journey.

"However, it has become apparent to me that now is the right time to make this decision so that I can prioritise my health and my family.

"In the short term, it will be business as usual in terms of running the club's day-to-day operations, and I will give my full support to a transitionary period that will enable the board to carefully assess and appoint my successor.

"I want to extend my sincere thanks to the club's supporters, ownership, players and staff. I'm proud of what we have collectively achieved and I'm excited to see what's ahead for everyone as the club builds towards a future of sustained success."

Newcastle United Chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, said: "All of us who are connected with Newcastle United are very saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with Darren and his family and we send him every good wish for a full recovery.

"On a personal level, Darren has been a great partner to me and to our fans, players, ownership and staff.

"On behalf of the club and its owners, I want to thank Darren for his service and dedication to Newcastle United. He has made a significant contribution to the club's progress during his time as CEO, helping to build a strong foundation for Newcastle United's success. We fully understand the difficult decision he has made.

"We will work closely with Darren to hand over the CEO role at the appropriate moment following a carefully considered search process, and he will continue to have the full support of the board and the Newcastle United family now and in the future."

Giveaway:
Make a few quick bob

Coming to the Theatre Royal next week is "Gerry & Sewell", a tale of two Newcastle fans searching for their holy grail of season tickets, despite being totally skint....

There are six performances: book tickets here

Wed 02.10.2024 @ 7.30pm
Thu 03.10.2024 @ 2.00pm and 7.30pm
Fri 04.10.2024 @ 7.30pm
Sat 05.10.2024 @ Noon and 7.30pm

We had two tickets to give away and asked which book by author Jonathan Tulloch was the basis for both "Gerry & Sewell" and the film "Purely Belter" 

The answer was "The Season Ticket" and the name of the winning entrant will appear here later today.

Carabao Cup:
AFC Wimbledon (h)

Newcastle face League Two AFC Wimbledon for the first time on Tuesday, after the Carabao Cup Third Round tie was postponed and switched from Plough Lane to SJP following flood damage to their stadium. 

It's a 7.45pm kick-off and a result must be achieved on the night - if the score is tied after 90 minutes a penalty shootout will ensue.

NUFC season ticket holders signed up to the Carabao Cup home ticket scheme should now have had their digital tickets delivered and monies taken.

A ticket ballot for season ticket holders not on that scheme and members then took place. A general sale to both groups then began at 10am on Thursday but whatever tickets still remained then quickly went.   

The Dons have received an allocation of 3,000 places - it's unclear whether they'll sell all of them.

The EFL handbook states that gate receipts are shared 45% to each club and 10% to the EFL themselves. 

This will be the first domestic cup tie to be played at SJP in 2024, following no less than six successive away draws in Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

At stake is a home meeting with Chelsea in the Fourth Round.

Team: tbc

(Coral's odds for this tie are yet to be published)

New customers receive a £20 bet when staking £5 (T's & C's apply). Find those markets online here 

AFCW: Johnnie Jackson's Wombles have lost just once in nine league and cup games so far this season, but will have been idle for ten days when they take to the field at Gallowgate.  

This Saturday's League Two home game with Accrington Stanley has had to be postponed due to the short time frame in trying to arrange an alternative venue. 

The Dons made it through to this stage of the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 First Round win at fellow League Two side Bromley and penalty shootout success following a 2-2 home draw with Premier League  Ipswich Town in the Second Round.

UK TV: Live on Sky Sports+

Overseas TV:  
DAZN Canada
Digi Sport 4 / online (Romania)
ESPN Brazil
EXXEN Digital Turkey
Go3 Extra Sports (Est/Lat/Lit)
Nova Sport (Bulgaria)
Paramount+ (USA)
Sport 3 Israel
Sport TV3 / Multiscreen (Portugal)
Viaplay Den/Fin/Ice/Ned/Nor/Pol/Swe
Vidio (Indonesia)
V Sport 2 Norway

NORD VPN products protect and secure
your online activity. Click here for fast
and secure sport streaming guidance.

UK Radio: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Referee: Darren Bond - the Lancashire whistler is yet to take charge of a Newcastle game during his fledgling PL career, but oversaw our home and away victories over Derby County during the 2016/17 Championship season.

(Craig Pawson was scheduled to referee the original tie at Plough Lane).

VAR: n/a 

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Hospital Radio: Radio Tyneside commentary is accessible free of charge in local hospitals via Spark Media.

Buses: The Go North East X50 football service from the Metro Centre will be in operation. Details here

Metro: No scheduled service alterations.

Rail: No scheduled service alterations

Roads: The Tyne Bridge refurbishment programme is underway, with one lane in each direction closed at all times until further notice. That will lead to inevitable congestion and delays. More details here

Temporary road closures around SJP apply from an hour before kick-off until 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Stats: 

Dons @ SJP - all-time:

1999/00 Drew 3-3 (PL)
1998/99 Won 3-1 (PL)
1997/98 Lost 1-3 (PL)
1996/97 Won 2-0 (PL)
1995/96 Won 6-1 (PL)
1994/95 Won 2-1 (PL)
1993/94 Won 4-0 (PL)
1988/89 Won 2-1 (D1)
1988/89 Won 1-0 (MT)
1987/88 Lost 1-3 (FA)
1987/88 Lost 1-2 (D1)
1986/87 Won 1-0 (D1)

This will be a first-ever senior fixture against the side founded in 2002, although they met in the 2015/16 FA Youth Cup Fourth Round, AFC Wimbledon U18s beating a Magpies side including Sean Longstaff 2-1 at SJP.

United and the former Wimbledon club twice played each other in the League Cup; the Dons winning 2-1 at Plough Lane in 1987 and repeating that scoreline at their adopted home of Selhurst Park six years later.

Update:
Home tie awaits winners

The winners of the delayed Carabao Cup Third Round tie between Newcastle and AFC Wimbledon will be at home to Chelsea in the Fourth Round, after the draw for the last 16 took place on Wednesday evening:

Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton v Stoke City
Spurs v Manchester City
AFC Wimbledon or Newcastle United v Chelsea
Manchester United v Leicester City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
Preston North End v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

Fourth Round ties are played in w/c October 28th.

Were the Magpies to beat the League Two Dons next Tuesday, that would set up back-to-back meetings with Enzo Maresca's Blues - a cup tie at SJP following the Premier League away clash on Sunday October 27th.  

Chelsea ended Newcastle's interest in this competition last season at the Quarter Final stage, advancing on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Update:
Plough Lane fundraiser

A crowd funding page set up by Wimbledon fans to try and offset the considerable costs of righting the damage caused to their ground by flood damage has attracted donations from across the UK and beyond.  

Aided by a £15k contribution from Newcastle United, that fund stood at over £122K* by Friday night, with over 2,900 individual donations made so far.

Although their next target of £150K is within sight, the total costs of repairs, insurance commitments and staging home matches elsewhere are likely to be a daunting amount far in excess of that figure.

Dons fans with tickets for the postponed tie are donating their refunds: to any Newcastle fans minded to do the same, your funds will be very gratefully received. 

The crowd funder appeal is online here

* A separate Dons Trust appeal has raised over £10K so far, as they try to keep various community programmes usually based at Plough Lane running.

Update:
Wimbledon rail info

Rail operator LNER are offering full refunds to Newcastle fans who booked train tickets to and from London Kings Cross for last Tuesday's postponed Carabao Cup tie.

This can be done via the LNER app for e-ticket holders (reason is "other" and just mention the game has been called off in the reason section. Refunds can also be requested via LNER on 03457 225 333).

The refunds come in the form of vouchers valid for 12 months and apply only to those booking direct with the operator. Anyone using the Trainline etc. will need to pursue claims with them separately. 

Internationals:
Spanish stroll 

Magpies pair Sam Alabi and Michael Mills started on the bench for England U16s on Thursday in a 3-0 friendly win over Ukraine at the Pinatar Arena in Spain - their participation is tbc.

The Young Lions are back in action at the same venue against Israel on Saturday before rounding off against France at Pinatar next Tuesday.

2024/25:
Youth recruitment:
further new faces 

Newcastle's youth recruitment drive is reportedly set to continue with the transfer of 17 year-old Georgian striker Vakthang Salia from Dinamo Tbilisi.

Salia has scored four senior goals this season and is tipped to remain with his current club before making a switch to Tyneside next summer.

Meanwhile various reports claim that the Magpies have completed a deal to sign 14 year-old forward Leon Mukumbira from Peterborough United's academy.

Update:
U21 coach arrival 
now confirmed

Newcastle's search for an U21 coach is over, with confirmation on Tuesday that St. Mirren assistant manager Diarmuid O'Carroll has been appointed.

A compensation deal with the Scottish Premiership side for the 37 year-old Killarney native was reached, with O'Carroll absent on Saturday as the Buddies defeated Hearts 2-1. 

Ex-Magpie midfielder Brian Kerr assisted St. Mirren boss Stephen Robinson in that game and has inherited the role. He was already at the club as a youth coach.

Playing as a striker in Scotland, England, Iceland and Northern Ireland, Diarmuid coached at Motherwell and Morecambe before joining St. Mirren in February 2022. 

He also serves on SJP old boy Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland backroom staff and will continue in that role.

The Magpies second string have been overseen by Neil Winskill and Jack Ross since the departure of previous U21 lead coach Ben Dawson in pre-season.   

U21s:
Shaymen up first
 

Newcastle's first National League Cup tie sees them travel to Halifax Town this Tuesday, October 1st. 

It's a 7pm kick-off at The Shay, with admission set at £12 adults, £10 concessions and £5 for 12-17s. U12s gain free entry when accompanying a paying adult.

Only the East Stand will be open for this tie and there don't look to be any advance tickets available. The stadium postcode is HX1 2YS.

United's U21s are one 16 PL2 sides in the inaugural year of this competition, with 16 National League clubs.

The Magpies have been drawn in Group C as follows:

Tue 01.10.2024 Halifax Town (a) 7pm
Tue 05.11.2024 Tamworth (a) 7.45pm
Tue 03.12.2024 Boston United (a) 7.30pm
Tue 21.01.2025 Gateshead (a) 7.45pm

Leeds, Boro and the mackems are also in Group C and will play the same four opponents; none of the PL2 sides face each other in the group stage of the competition.

The top two sides in each eight team group qualify for the Quarter Finals in February, with the Semi Finals in March and the Final in April.

We're trying to establish whether there's any provision for a penalty shootout in the event of a drawn game in this competition, as is the case in the EFL Trophy.

Premier League:
Cottage pie'd

Fulham  3  Newcastle  1  

Match report

2024/25:
Crystal Palace (a) 
rail disruption
 
FAO anyone travelling to Newcastle's Premier League game at Selhurst Park on Saturday November 30th, rail engineering works mean that London Kings Cross station will be completely closed that Saturday and Sunday.

A reduced LNER service from Newcastle will operate to and from St. Neots, with a replacement bus to Bedford providing connections to London-bound trains.

Find further information online here

Charity effort:
Pilgrim's progress

Update: thanks to everyone who has donated so far to Keith's fund, which is now over £1,350.

NUFC.com reader Keith Airey is currently walking the Camino de Santiago aka Way of St. James - a traditional pilgrimage path through France & Spain.

His route takes him from St. Jean Pied du Port to Santiago de Compostela, a distance of over 550 miles.  

Keith is fundraising for The Samaritans in memory of his late nephew, William. Anyone wishing to donate to this worthy cause can do so via justgiving here

Giveaway:
Compo answer

The latest release from Toon badge provider Magpin is his take on this season's three kits.

Those badges are in stock now and on sale here, priced at £6 each, or £15 for all three when bought together.

We had a set to give away and asked which non-league side provided the opposition at Nene Park when United debuted their maroon and blue kit in 1995.

The answer was Rushden and Diamonds and from the correct entries received, the one from Brenda Ryland was randomly selected as the winner.

On sale NOW