Ticket news:
Rotherham (a) SOLD OUT
Brentford (h) Public sale now
Barnsley (a) Member sale now
Ipswich (h) Public sale now (online)
Preston (h) (EFL Cup) ST holder sale now
Preston (a) ST holder sale now (50 pts) 
 

2016/17:
Rotherham United (a)

United make their first-ever appearance at New York Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when they face the Millers in an old-fashioned 3pm kick-off.

Newcastle are the highest scorers in the Championship so far with 21 goals from 10 games, while Rotherham have the leakiest defence, conceding 24 to date.

All 2,500 away section tickets have been sold, with the host club advising that at full time, home fans will be directed towards Don Street whilst away supporters will exit via New York Way leading to Main Street. That arrangement will apply for at least 20 minutes.

Travel: If you're off to South Yorkshire by train, be aware that Central Metro station is closed from 8pm Friday until Monday AM for scheduled maintenance.

Where: New York Stadium S60 1AH (12,021)
Nearest station: Rotherham Central (0.4 miles)
Return mileage from SJP: 257 miles

The New York Stadium (named after the area it was built in) opened for business in 2012 - ending a four season tenancy at the Don Valley Athletics Stadium.

That came about when disputes with their landlord prompted the Millers to leave Millmoor - which rather oddly remains intact (but unused) only a short distance away from the new one.

Coral's enhanced new customer offer for this game is a mighty 8/1 on a Magpies win (£5 max stake) and should that not happen, there's a consolation £5 free bet.

Get that offer online here

Selected match odds:

Dwight Gayle first goalscorer @ 3/1
Yoan Gouffran anytime scorer @ 11/5
Newcastle to keep a clean sheet @ 5/4
Newcastle to score in opening 10 minutes @ 11/2

Coral match bets are online here

Team: Vurnon Anita is available again after completing his three match suspension.

RUFC: To follow. 

Ahead of hosting us, Alan Stubbs saw his side beaten 1-2 at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening.

The Millers have won just once in the Championship so far this season, a 1-0 home win over Brentford which was also their only clean sheet. Since then they've lost four times and drawn the other two.

Other opposition sides haven't found goals hard to come by at New York Stadium, with Wolves, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest all drawing 2-2 and Cardiff winning 2-1. Morecambe also won 5-4 there in the EFL Cup.

Our most recent visit to Rotherham was for a rather feisty FA Cup tie that ended 1-1 in January 1993. Newcastle won the replay 2-0.

Referee: tbc - but will be from the Premier League group of referees.

UK TV: None

Overseas TV: 
Arena Sport 1 +HD
beIN Sports 3 Australia
beIN Sports 4 USA
Sportdigital TV +HD
SportKlub (Cro/Ser/Slo)
Ten 3 (India/Nepal/Pakistan/Sri Lanka)

UK Radio: None

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Stats:

Mags @ Millers - all-time:

1992/93 drew 1-1 Lee (FAC)
1982/83 won 5-1 Keegan 4, Todd
1981/82 drew 0-0
1964/65 drew 1-1 Penman
1963/64 won 3-2 Penman, Suddick 2
1962/63 lost 1-3 McGrath
1961/62 drew 0-0

(All games staged at Millmoor)

Upcoming Championship Fixtures:

Sat 01.10.2016:

Fulham v QPR (12.45pm)
Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers (3pm)
Brentford v Wigan Athletic (3pm)
Bristol City v Nottingham Forest (3pm)
Burton Albion v Cardiff City (3pm)
Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town (3pm)
Leeds United v Barnsley (3pm)
Preston North End v Aston Villa (3pm)
Reading v Derby County (3pm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm)
Wolves v Norwich City (5.30pm)

2016/17:
Dwight's magic
hat-trick!

Newcastle  4  Norwich City  3
 
Match footage is online here

Magpies number 9 Dwight Gayle netted a hat-trick as Newcastle scored twice in added time, turning defeat into victory on a staggering night at St. James' Park.

After suffering a late set-back at Villa Park five days earlier, United staged a late, late show of their own to stun a Norwich side seemingly heading for top spot.

Apparently heading for a 1-3 loss that would see them languishing in ninth place, the Magpies instead ended the evening third - a point behind the Canaries and three off current Championship leaders Huddersfield.

Elevation

Yoan Gouffran scored in the fifth minute of added time to apparently salvage a point but then came Gayle's incredible winner to send SJP absolutely wild.

It would have been an astonishing ending to any game but to turn the tables on a City side victorious in their previous four outings has the feel of a pivotal moment in this season for Rafa Benitez and his players. 

Enjoying a level of domination that even eclipsed the opening exchanges of the recent 6-0 victory at QPR, United could have been five goals to the good before Dwight Gayle broke the deadlock after 24 minutes. 

The former Palace striker had three unsuccessful efforts in just six minutes - two saved by Michael McGovern - before Matt Ritchie hit the crossbar and Jonjo Shelvey drove just wide of the Gallowgate goal.

Without a goal in three starts, Gayle got his reward by poking home at the near post after Ritchie centred from the right with the outside of his left foot.

A City defence including ex-Magpie Sebastien Bassong continually looked all at sea, but some neat and tidy forays upfield by the visitors hinted that the recent tradition of goals in this fixture might just continue.

Despite that though, Norwich had mostly been kept at arms' length and Karl Darlow hadn't been tested on his recall to the side until seconds before the break.

At that point Yoan Gouffran made a risky challenge to halt the progress of Robbie Brady and Graham Dorrans sent Darlow the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

Worse was soon to follow after the break though, with striker Cameron Jerome curling home a fine shot over Darlow to put the visitors ahead.

And if that wasn't bad enough Norwich got a third following another break, Jacob Murphy's 25 yard shot taking a deflection that wrong-footed Darlow.

Unbelievably that was enough to send some alleged home fans heading to the exits with over 20 minutes remaining - but United instantly replied through Gayle, who did brilliantly to bring down a superb 60-yard ball from Shelvey before slotting it past McGovern.

It was game on at 3-2, with the below-par Momo Diame and Jack Colback replaced by Aleksandar Mitrovic and Isaac Hayden, but again the Serb seemed more intent on wrestling than playing and was almost instantly booked for some needless shoving. 

Dorrans saw an effort blocked at the visitors looked to seal victory, before what looked like being our major opportunity went begging after 79 minutes - Gayle's rising near-post volley touched away by McGovern.

Mitrovic headed wide as the 90 minutes approached and a third home loss of the season loomed - along with inevitable scrutiny of the tactics, personnel and substitutions that had been deployed by Rafa here.

Christian Atsu arrived in place of Dummett as the last throw of the dice, while an improvised clearance from last man back Ciaran Clark to rob substitute Nelson Oliveira maintained ever-dwindling hopes of a point.

Some ridiculous time-wasting antics by City had led to six minutes of added time being allotted but five of those had gone before Gouffran managed to get his head on DeAndre Yedlin's cross for an unlikely leveller.

More drama was to follow though and within a minute Gayle sent St. James' into raptures as Shelvey's long forward punt was knocked down by Mitrovic for Gayle, who chested the ball down and found the back of the Leazes net from just inside the Norwich box.

Pick one from your own personal memory bank: Alan Shearer's treble in the epic 4-3 win over Leicester in February 1997, Mark McGhee's late winner in a 5-4 against the Foxes in January 1990 or Kenny Wharton forcing the ball over the same goal line to see off Fulham 3-2 back in November 1983.

Just like Tiote v Arsenal, that's why you never leave.

There was still time for Darlow to deny Jonny Howson in the 99th minute before card-happy referee Peter Bankes ended an enthralling encounter that may just have changed the course of the Championship season.

The Canaries' rotten run on Tyneside continues, losing each of their last six visits and conceding 16 goals in doing so, with ten coming in the last two games.

However defeat for Alex Neil's side tonight was totally unthinkable until Gouffran and Gayle's fabulous finale. 

Glorious, unexpected, ridiculous, Newcastle United. 

doubleplusgood, as Geordie Orwell would have said

Team: Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (Atsu, 90+2), Shelvey, Colback (Hayden 71), Ritchie, Gouffran, Diame (Mitrovic 71), Gayle.
Subs n/u: Sels, Mbemba, Lazaar, Perez.

Booked: Colback, Ritchie, Dummett, Mitrovic, Lascelles 

Goals: Gayle 24,71,90+6, Gouffran 90+5.

NCFC: McGovern, Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Olsson, Tettey, Dorrans, Jacob Murphy (Bennett 79), Howson, Brady, Jerome (Oliveira 86).
Subs n/u: Naismith, Hoolahan, Josh Murphy, Thompson.

Booked: Brady, Howson, Dorrans, Olsson, Jerome.

Goals: Dorrans 44pen, Jerome 52, Murphy 69.

Crowd: 48,236.

If anyone misplaced some keys in the Gallowgate West Corner with a McEwans Lager blue away strip key ring, they have been handed in to a club steward.

Referee: Peter Bankes - first senior game involving Newcastle for the whistler from Merseyside. 

Rafa:

"I did a little fist pump. Normally I am calm.

"To feel the fans here when you are scoring goals and winning the game was amazing. I think that we deserved to win.

"In the first half we deserved to be ahead easily against a good team. The second half was incredible at 3-1 down.

"We didn’t start well in the second half after one or two mistakes but still the team reacted and pushing.

"They played five at the back and we dropped off a little bit. Then we were in attack.

"And for all the bad luck in the first half we had good luck in the second half. In the end we deserved to win.

"I said the other day that against Aston Villa, he (Gayle) had one or two clear chances and things could have been different,

"Every striker will have those situations, and I will always try to give confidence to a striker as long as he continues working. 

"It is not just about scoring goals. He has been working hard – he had chances in the first half – and then his goals came in the second half. I’m really pleased for him, and really pleased for the team.

"You never know how important this could be. 

"It is still early, but if you win and you win in this way, it is a boost for everyone. It is a boost for the players and the fans. 

"You have to give credit for the players because their work rate and spirit – everything you are looking for – you could see. You could see all of those things.”

Stats:

Latest recorded NUFC goals in recent seasons: 

2016/17 Dwight Gayle v Norwich (h) 90+6 (Ch)
2016/17 Yoan Gouffran v Norwich (h) 90+5 (Ch)
2013/14 Yohan Cabaye v West Ham (a) 90+5 (PL)
2011/12 Yohan Cabaye v Blackburn (a) 90+6 (LC)

That 2011 game at Ewood Park is the last occasion before Wednesday night when United scored twice during second half added time - with Danny Guthrie having already netted at 90+3 minutes.

In terms of home goals, Gouffran and Gayle both left their efforts later in proceedings than the following: 

2013/14 Papiss Cisse v Palace (h) 90+4 (PL)
2012/13 Papiss Cisse v Fulham (h) 90+4 (PL)
2012/13 Papiss Cisse v Anji (h) 90+4 (EL)
2011/12 Gutierrez v Blackburn (h) 90+4 (FA)
2010/11 Coloccini v Wigan (h) 90+4 (PL)

(Goals scored in added time were routinely recorded as 90 minutes until the proliferation of online statistics, meaning that it's impossible to compile longer lists).

Dwight Gayle's fourth senior career hat-trick was his first in a Newcastle shirt and the first by a Magpie since Gini Wijnaldum's treble against Norwich City at SJP in September 2015. 

Gayle now has seven goals from eight Championship starts for the Magpies, while Yoan Gouffran added a third of the season in all competitions and now has 15 to his name from 105 league and cup appearances. 

The last Newcastle player to score three goals in a Championship game was Kevin Nolan against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in September 2009.

Our last league ever-present record of the season went by the wayside with replacement of Matz Sels by Karl Darlow. The Belgian custodian played every minute of our first nine Championship games.

Current season comparison with our five post-war promotions after 10 games (figure in brackets is eventual finishing position):

2016/17 W6 D1 L3 F21 A10 19 points, 2nd (?)

2009/10 W7 D2 L1 F18 A5 23 points, 1st (1st)
1992/93 W10 D0 L0 F23 A6 30 points, 1st (1st) 
1983/84 W6 D2 L2 F19 A11 20 points, 4th (3rd)
1964/65 W6 D2 L2 F16 A9 20 points*, 1st (1st) 
1947/48 W5 D2 L3 F18 A13 17 points*, 5th (2nd)

* recalculated to emulate 3 points for a win

Magpies versus Canaries - post WWII:

2016/17 won 4-3 Gayle 3, Gouffran
2015/16 won 6-2 Wijnaldum 4, Perez, Mitrovic
2013/14 won 2-1 Remy, Gouffran
2012/13 won 1-0 Ba
2011/12 won 1-0 Cisse
2004/05 won 2-1 Jenas, Sh.Ameobi (LC)
2004/05 drew 2-2 Bellamy, Hughes
1994/95 won 3-0 Beardsley 2(1pen), Kitson
1993/94 won 3-0 Cole, Lee, Beardsley
1988/89 lost 0-2
1987/88 lost 1-3 Gazza
1986/87 won 4-1 Goddard, Gazza, McDonald, Jackson
1984/85 drew 1-1 Waddle
1981/82 won 2-1 Varadi, Mills
1977/78 drew 2-2 Burns, Kennedy
1976/77 won 5-1 T.Craig, Gowling, Oates, McCaffery 2
1975/76 won 5-2 Gowling 2, Macdonald 2, OG
1973/74 drew 0-0
1972/73 won 3-1 Tudor 2, Guthrie
1964/65 won 2-0 Cummings, Robson
1963/64 won 2-0 Cummings, Iley
1962/63 won 2-1 Fell, Thomas
1961/62 drew 0-0

Proud sponsors of NUFC.com

I got stripes:
Hat giveaway - 
ends Friday



Now that the dark nights are upon us again, Tyneside -based merchandisers Spirit of 69 have new stocks of their Fairs Cup bobble hat available, priced £22.50.

We've purloined one of said items for a free to enter competition and simply want you to tell us which of the following sides didn't oppose United in a Fairs Cup tie:

Sporting Lisbon, Rangers, AC Milan, Porto

Email answer to comps@nufc.com (subject: FC).

Closing date is Fri Sep 30th @ 9pm
    
Hats etc. can be ordered online here

Latest:
It's coming home....
 


....to roost. 

After one game in charge, Sam Allardyce has been relieved of his position as England manager "by mutual consent" following revelations about him published in Tuesday's edition of the Telegraph newspaper.

Elsewhere, Derby County suspended their manager Nigel Pearson on Tuesday amid reports of a falling out between him and the Rams Chairman. Amazingly, the Rams are reportedly considering Steve McClaren as a replacement.

The Telegraph promise more disclosures in the coming days, with much speculation surrounding their tease concerning "at least six English managers" allegedly involved in rule breaches. This could get messy.... 

Theatre:
"The Season Ticket" - first reviews in

Based on Jonathan Tulloch's award-winning book of the same name, a theatrical production of "The Season Ticket" is currently being staged in Newcastle - and initial performances have been very well received:

"Incredible. Wonderful performances, beautifully directed, with a fantastic script! Go see!"

"absolutely brilliant, went last night, laughed & cried, get yourself along"

"Best play I have seen. Recommend to anyone - Fantastic"

The story of penniless Toon fans Gerry and Sewell and their attempts to find the money to watch the black and whites was filmed as "Purely Belter" in 2000 and now returns, adapted and updated for the stage.

Starring Will Graham and Niek Versteeg, "The Season Ticket" runs through to Saturday week, October 8th at Northern Stage in the Haymarket.

Adult tickets cost from £15.50-£26, with U21s and students £13. Bookings online here

Due to customer demand, Northern Stage have now confirmed accessible performances as follows:

Thu 06.10.2016 Captioned (7.30pm)
Fri 07.10.2016 British Sign Language (7.30pm)
Sat 07.10.2016 Touch Tour (12.30pm)
Sun 08.10.2016 Audio Described (2pm)

Venue accessibility

For anyone not going to Rotherham meanwhile, there's a matinee performance at 2pm this coming Saturday (1st) and on Saturday 8th October (also 2pm).

Northern Stage are also running an early evening performance this coming Tuesday, curtain up 6pm. 

PS: After leaving Newcastle, "The Season Ticket" moves on to Winchester, York and Dundee.

Loan lads:
Tom gets on

Tom Heardman (Hartlepool United)
A debut in senior football came on Tuesday evening, as Tom arrived as an 84th minute substitute in a 1-1 draw with Luton Town in League Two.

Alex Gilliead (Luton Town)
Alex played the first 79 minutes of a 1-1 draw away at Hartlepool United in League Two on Tuesday, with the Hatters levelling from a free kick awarded for a foul on him.

Ivan Toney (Shrewsbury Town)
A dismissal during Town's 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday means that striker Ivan sat out Tuesday's League One home game against Peterborough United. That game ended 1-1.

Adam Armstrong (Barnsley)
Arma arrived from the bench in the 67th minute as the Tykes found a late equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa in the Championship on Tuesday. 

Sammy Ameobi (Bolton Wanderers)
Arriving from the bench for the final 27 minutes, Sammy was unable to prevent the Trotters tumbling to a 0-1 defeat at Rochdale in League One on Tuesday.

Haris Vuckic (Bradford City)
Vuckic started for the Bantams on Tuesday night, completing 64 minutes of a 2-1 home victory over Fleetwood Town in League One.

Kyle Cameron (Newport County)
The Scottish U21 international defender played the full game as Newport lost 0-1 at Grimsby Town in League Two on Tuesday.

Macaulay Gillesphey (Carlisle United)
A 2-2 draw at Doncaster Rovers in League Two on Tuesday night means that the Cumbrians have lost just once in 13 league and cup games this season - and that was on penalties to Championship side Derby County.

Macaulay played the full 90 minutes at the Keepmoat.  

Siem De Jong (PSV Eindhoven)
A 2-2 draw away to Russian side Rostov in the Champions League on Wednesday evening saw Siem appear as a 73rd minute replacement for PSV. His brother Luuk scored once.

Jamie Sterry (Coventry City)
A 2-2 home draw with AFC Wimbledon in League One on Wednesday saw defender Sterry return to the Sky Blue starting lineup and complete 90 minutes.

Kevin Mbabu (BSC Young Boys)
A third successive 0-0 draw in all competitions saw Young Boys return with a point from Thursday's Europa League trip to Astana. Kevin was an unused substitute in Kazakhstan.

Emmanuel Riviere (Real Osasuna)
Las Palmas (h) Primera Division, Saturday.

Florian Thauvin (Olympique Marseille)
Angers (a) Ligue 1, Sunday.

Paul Woolston (Darlington 1883)
Brackley Town (a) National League North 08.10.2016

Injured:

Tim Krul (Ajax) 
Game tbc

Liam Smith (Crewe Alexandra)
Game tbc

Henri Saivet (AS Saint-Etienne)
Game tbc

Call-ups:
Internationals

Lewis Gibson (England U17s):
Croatia Cup:
Wed 28.09.2016 Croatia (a) Pula FR
Fri 30.09.2016 Greece (n) Novigrad FR
Mon 03.10.2016 Germany (n) Pula FR

Ciaran Clark, Daryl Murphy (Ireland):
06.10.2016 Georgia (h) WCQ
09.10.2016 Moldova (a) WCQ

Paul Dummett (Wales):
06.10.2016 Austria (a) WCQ
09.10.2016 Georgia (h) WCQ

Vurnon Anita (Netherlands):
07.10.2016 Belarus (h) WCQ
10.10.2016 France (h) WCQ

Grant Hanley, Matt Ritchie (Scotland):
08.10.2016 Lithuania (h) WCQ
11.10.2016 Slovakia (a) WCQ

Freddie Woodman, Isaac Hayden (England U21):
08.10.2016 Malta (h) ECQ
11.10.2016 Slovenia (a) ECQ

There's a first selection in this age group for 19 year-old goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, although he has trained with the U21s before. Also called up is former Magpie custodian Jonathan Mitchell, now at Derby County.

Kyle Cameron (Scotland U21):
05.10.2016 Iceland (a) ECQ
11.10.2016 Macedonia (a) ECQ

There's a maiden U21 call-up for reserve defender Kyle. The 19 year-old native of Hexham is currently on loan at League Two side Newport County following a similar temporary posting to York City last season.

Scotland cannot qualify for the finals in 2017 and have selected a host of new players including Kyle, fellow Magpie Stuart Findlay among those making way.

Possible call-ups for games including:

England U20s:
05.10.2016 Netherlands (h) Oldham FR
07.10.2016 Germany (h) Huddersfield FR
10.10.2016 USA (h) Rochdale FR

Serbia:
06.10.2016 Moldova (a) WCQ
09.10.2016 Austria (h) WCQ

USA:
06.10.2016 Cuba (a) FR
12.10.2016 New Zealand (h) FR

Belgium:
07.10.2016 Bosnia (h) WCQ
10.10.2016 Gibraltar (a) WCQ

Ghana:
07.10.2016 Uganda (h) WCQ

DR Congo:
08.10.2016 Libya (h) WCQ

Morocco:
08.10.2016 Gabon (a) WCQ

Senegal:
08.10.2016 Cape Verde (h) WCQ

U23s:
Breakthrough

Newcastle U23s  3  Swansea U23s  2
 
Match report

2016/17:
Our defence is terrified

Aston Villa  1  Newcastle  1

Match action is online here

Match report

Old boys return:
Entertainers 

Tickets remain on sale for "The Entertainers" reunion match at Kingston Park next month, marking 20 years since our glorious 5-0 win over Manchester United.

Non-playing duo Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand will manage a side of SJP old boys against a Manchester Select at Kingston Park with kick-off at 1.30pm on Sunday October 7th.

Back in black and white once again will be Asprilla, Beardsley, Beresford, Bernard, Clark, Dabizas, Fox, Harper, Howey, Ketsbaia, Kilcine, Lee, D.Peacock, P.Robinson, Sellars, Thompson and Watson with two special guests: Milan Srnicek (Pavel's brother) and Nick Emmerson (Tino's interpreter in the 1990s).

Standing tickets are on sale at £10 (£5 concessions) with seating available at £20 & £10 online here or 0871 226 6060. Premium options via 0191 214 2892.

The game is preceded by a dinner at SJP on Saturday night, which acts as a fundraiser for Sport Newcastle. Tickets for this are still available online here

U18s:
Reds up next

After losing their unbeaten record this season at the sixth time of asking last weekend, Newcastle's U18s face Liverpool at Little Benton on Saturday (11am).

The Reds came a cropper against local rivals Everton last week when they were beaten 1-4 at home.

Book:
PDF update released

For anyone who owns a copy of "Newcastle United: The Ultimate Record", the latest seasonal update for 2015/16 is now available as a PDF free of charge.

If you'd like one or have mislaid any previous PDFs, just email biffa@nufc.com and they'll be sent out for you to download and print off if desired. 

PS: the last copies of sister publication, "Newcastle United: The Ultimate Who's Who" are now available for the special price of just £17.50 including UK delivery. 

For further details please email biffa@nufc.com with your postcode (overseas orders are possible - delivery charged at cost - email with your location for quote).