Gillingham vs Newcastle match report – Alan Pardeww claimed after the match it was ‘respect’ that saw United through into round three.

United progress to round three of the Capital One Cup but still no Newcastle player has scored in four and a half hours of football this season.

A disinterested City now move on to what would have been a very winnable match to put us in the semi-finals at Leicester.

A little more quality on the pitch at the sharp end would have put us into that last eight spot and given everybody who cares about Newcastle a much needed lift.

Alan Pardew names much changed starting eleven with fans hoping Newcastle’s cup hopes survive the gamble.

Mapou; “If we play well we can go through. We all want to do well and to help ourselves move up and continue to do well.”

While the visitors beat West Ham recently on their travels; defeats in the Premier League to Chelsea, Cardiff, Villa and a draw at Stoke show that these are no world beaters we face tonight.

This was never going to go down well with the local constabulary, asked to police two matches on the same night, and predictably they have read the riot act to Sunderland who have been forced to climb down.

Gouffran made the game safe with a magnificent finish on 66 minutes. Receiving the ball with his back to goal just outside the box, he turned to his left and hit an unstoppable shot across Paddy Kenny and into the top corner. Not dissimilar to Ginola’s quality finish against Manchester United in the 5-0, not bad company to be keeping.

Newcastle have failed to beat the Eastlands side in their last 14 games, a run stretching over 8 years…

Who then misses out? I would guess it’s a straight fight between Vurnon Anita and Moussa Sissoko, with Sissoko comfortably getting the nod every time for me.