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Pardew Proud Of Defence But What Do The Stats/Reality Say About Newcastle’s Defending?

10 years ago
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Alan Pardew often talks a good game but he is always liable to come out with all kinds of statements that don’t have a very strong grip on reality.

In advance of the Spurs match, the Newcastle manager has claimed that for the first time, his team haven’t missed Coloccini being out injured.

While that particular statement is open to debate/doubt, we are maybe in danger of ignoring a more important subject which is Newcastle’s defending overall.

Pardew’s statement about not missing Coloccini in the aftermath of the great win against Chelsea, on a day when their attacking threat failed to turn up, is all very well. However, the underlying message that Newcastle’s defending has been generally decent may not stand close scrutiny.

After 10 matches; United have conceded 16 goals, 5 at home and 11 away in the Premier League.

When you compare this to the rest of the Premier League you will find that only the bottom three have conceded more; Palace, Norwich and the Mackems having conceded 20 or more – though of course before last weekend it would have been only Palace & The Mackems as Norwich had conceded unlucky 13 before they were hit for a very unlucky 7 at Manchester City.

So the bottom line is that before everybody starts patting each on the backs with regard to the quality of Newcastle’s defending, the fact that United have the fourth worst defensive record and went through the whole of September & October without a Premier League clean sheet, has to be a concern.

Spurs haven’t scored or conceded many and where Newcastle are concerned, it will be interesting to see how the Newcastle defence comes out of the match – with or without Coloccini.

Betting – NUFC Clean Sheet 19/4 – Final Score 0-0 12/1 – Any Goalkeeper To Be Man Of Match 16/1

To view all Spurs v Newcastle betting click HERE (Prices can fluctuate up and down)

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