MONDAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURE
Newcastle v
Portsmouth (2000 BST)
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606: DEBATE
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To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)
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By Paul Fletcher
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1943: Not long now until the match starts. The players are just finishing off their warm-up routines and thousands of Geordies are convincing themselves that, to borrow from Neil Young, tonight's the night.
From Jack on 606:
"There have been too many poor teams in the Premier League this season. The bottom five teams should be relegated instead of just three."
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Hmm, why don't you suggest that to the supporters of all the struggling teams. Perhaps late on a Saturday night when they've had a few.
1935: Newcastle v Portsmouth team news
Newcastle
boss Alan Shearer has gone for broke, making five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Tottenham.
Out go Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll.
In come Fabio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins.
Portsmouth are unchanged from the team that lost at Manchester United.
1933: Alan Shearer as Newcastle manager. P3 W0 D1 L2.
1930: I know a Newcastle supporter, spoke to him this afternoon and he was absolutely certain that his team would win tonight. Not one iota of doubt in his mind. Is this how one sets oneself up for crushing disappointment? Like a small kid who convinces himself he is getting the latest games console for Christmas only to end up with some kind of practical educational tool.
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From anonymous via text on 81111: "Hull, Boro and Newcastle will go down. West Brom will win their remaining games finishing on 40 points."
Have you been drinking Mr Anonymous?
1928: Norwich v Reading. If Norwich lose they are in massive trouble with one game left. If they went down they would join Southampton and Charlton in League One next season. That is three clubs dropping down a division, no question.
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From Patrick via text on 81111: "Hi Paul. Pompey fan here just heading to the game now. There's all this chat about us not losing many - yes but we keep drawing and that's the most we are going to get tonight. We aren't playing good football and when your best striker you have is Kanu you know you have a problem."
1922: Newcastle v Portsmouth line-ups
Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Smith, Butt, Duff, Viduka, Martins, Owen. Subs: Krul, Barton, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Edgar, Carroll.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Belhadj, Hughes, Mullins, Nugent, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Pennant, Pamarot, Utaka, Cranie, Kanu, Basinas.
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)
1920: Some potentially bad news for Newcastle supporters. Their club are on their longest winless streak this season - eight games.
Yet, since Paul Hart took charge at Portsmouth the club have tasted defeat in just two of nine games.
I'd like at this juncture to give a big shout out to all the Pompey fans who have made the trek north for a Monday evening fixture. The 341 miles between the two clubs is the longest in the Premier League.
I wonder how many of them will be at St James' Park tonight?
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From jazza0707 on 606: "Newcastle will win tonight and beat Boro at home. Boro and Hull will both loose all of their remaining fixtures and both will drop into the Championship.
"How can nobody else see that Newcastle have by far the easiest set of fixtures out of these three clubs?"
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Will they, won't they. Not since the drama over whether Scott and Charlene would tie the knot have I been so gripped. If Newcastle were to go down I'm not sure I could stomach all the articles that would follow about how big a club the Magpies are and how their fans don't deserve this. They probably don't - but what fans do?
1912: Now don't forget that if you're out and about later, you can still follow this text commentary and get all the scores on your mobile. From a UK phone, just text FOOTBALL to 81010, it will cost you 10 to 15p and you will receive in return a link to our mobile site. Click on that, and you'll be straight through (then bookmark it so you never need to text that number again). The cost of being online on your phone will vary according to network and your own contract.
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From Frankland, Sheffield, via text on 81111: "One saving grace for the Toon is their goal difference. A win tonight would see them with a better difference than the four teams above them. In recent years it has been crucial."
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From BBC Sport's Ian Dennis: "I understand that Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obefemi Martins will all start. Three up front in a gamble for three points."
1906: There is a big fixture in the Championship tonight - one that will have an impact at both ends of the table.
Reading can keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion with victory at Norwich, who are also desperate for a win to lift themselves out of the bottom three.
I'll endeavour to keep you updated of the score in that one.
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From JaapStamsKahunas on 606: "I think Newcastle will beat Pompey tonight, who were awful at Old Trafford last Wednesday, but are still doomed.
"Owen is their one shining beacon of chance, and he's hardly firing all cylinders.
"Shearer or no Shearer, they're out of it."
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From BuffonIdol on 606:
"Sorry but Newcastle will struggle to win this game. Portsmouth have actually put in some OK performances of late and Shearer had totally failed to galvanise his team like so many new managers do. It's not his fault as the burden was too big, as is always the case at Newcastle."
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That, BuffonIdol, is definitely a point of view. And not one that I expect many Newcastle fans to share.
1856: Lets start with a few crumbs of comfort for Newcastle supporters. The reverse fixture earlier in the season provided Toon fans with one of their two victories away from home in the Premier League this season.
Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Danny Guthrie found the net in a 3-0 win.
1850 BST: They don't come any bigger than this - at least not according to Alan Shearer, who reckons tonight's game is one of the most important of his Newcastle career.
Big Al could most definitely do with a win. He hasn't had one yet as Newcastle boss and with his team in the bottom three you can easily see his point.
Even Ant and Dec have been voicing their concern.
Portsmouth haven't had a smooth ride this season either, with more than a little managerial turbulence of their own.
But Pompey go into this fixture six points clear of the bottom three.
What the Magpies fans wouldn't give for the luxurious comfort of those heady heights.
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