Steve Harper is certainly looking forward to the derby game on Sunday.
Steve Harper - first home derby game on Sunday
Steve told BBC Radio Newcastle today:
“The pressure of playing in front of the home fans could be the difference,” “At home we’ll have 52,000 desperately wanting us to win, bringing pressure.â€
“It’s important come half past one on Sunday to be very disciplined, very highly motivated but in the right way and try and win the game.”
Well it depends how the players react to the atmosphere. It could be pressure, but it could (should) also be inspiring for the Newcastle players to have 52,000 screaming Geordies shouting them on.
Sunday’s derby game will be Harper’s very first at St James’ Park and the in-form goalkeeper is only too aware of the significance of the game:
“It’ll be fantastic. When you go to their place you go to win the game but you won’t be disappointed with a point,”
“But it will be fantastic to play in front of 52,000 Geordies and to win in a local derby against Sunderland would be something special.”
To get all 3 points is the mission on Sunday, and really nothing less will be good enough. So in that way there could be pressure on our boys.
But the way they have been playing these last 5 games or so, we think we’ll be good enough to win, although we expect Sunderland to put up a good display.
They certainly were the better team in November, but we expect Newcastle to be better on Sunday.
Comments very welcome.
Loading ...
23 responses so far ↓
1 Craigg // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:16
Royston Beano get ready for a verbal Tirade the likes ye have never heard , Ive been using sign language all week so i can boo your appearance and your teams every move and cheer every cock up and i assume there will be the usual generous ammounts of them from your talented lot.
Chopra will be excused the ear bashing as he scored at the stadium of shite in Black and White, That rhymes as well eat it
Michael Carricks ties with the north east are well and truly severed, As plastic a geordie as Bruce, Or Craptin Marvel enjoy your time licking Rudolphs crack
On the good side Brown also staying at Manure and David Moyes has been on the Wee white lines again as he is signing Carr in the summer
2 Ross // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:22
hope harper has a very good game on sunday. his first derby at sjp in 15 years. his loyalty deserves rewards.
i’ve been waiting for this game for weeks. cant wait, we all hate the mackems and i hope the lads are really, really up for it.
3 Craigg // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:25
Where are the mackems they were on here a week or so back, Whats up expecting the inevitable
4 Ross // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:29
look at keanes comments craigg, he’s been unusually complimentary towards his teams biggest rivals and manager.
covering himself for the interviews come 4pm sunday?
5 Craigg // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:35
Its just funny how a while back we were flooded by mackems on the blog saying how they were gonna do this, that and the other to us. Now theyve gone quiet
Like you say Keane has said this to cover his back when the expected happens
6 Craigg // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:36
Does anyone know any mackem blogs i feel like invading their space
7 Bill F // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:44
When you say 52000 screaming Geordies I hope you are not including Makems in that total Ed.
I find it amusing but I have found Makems away from home call themselves Geordies. I worked with a couple in Essex they said it with a lot of pride, poor deluded b*ggers. I suppose there nothing else they could use to try and impress people with.
8 Craigg // Apr 18, 2008 at 20:50
I get annoyed when everyone refers to our attendances before KK came first time around calling us gloryhunters
Yet last season they only got full houses when they were running away with the league, As did their away support the took 4000 odd to their few away matches and 9000 to Barnsley and Luton when they were top of the league and defo promoted
It makes me sick the wat the media cream over them like their the only club that fills their stadium with a local fan base
9 wsq // Apr 18, 2008 at 21:47
to be very disciplined, very highly motivated but in the right way
the most important thing someone from nufc has said.
10 Spyro // Apr 18, 2008 at 22:21
Craigg you seem angry, i dont mind though, i need more bloggers posting abusive comments towards sunderland to get me in the mood, it is hard to experience it from down here, this is one time where i will actually want to see ronaldeanos comments
11 JJ // Apr 18, 2008 at 22:34
More than 52 000 Harps!!!!!!!!!!!!
You forgetting us honorary Geordies who will be screaming from Africa, America, Europe and Asia.
12 JJ // Apr 18, 2008 at 22:39
Right we now know there are 8 mackems in diguise on this blog.
Check the votes. Sunderland win. Hahahahaha.
What a joke.!
13 Tom_Toon // Apr 18, 2008 at 22:39
A man went to the doctors the other day because he was worried as he was shouting ‘COME ON SUNDERLAND’ while having a w~nk. The doctor then said; ‘dont worry, a lot of w~kers say that’.
14 Leo // Apr 18, 2008 at 23:52
haha nice one tom
15 Ross // Apr 19, 2008 at 0:18
what does a mackem do after they’ve just beaten ac milan?
turn off his playstation and climb back into his sisters bed.
16 51times // Apr 19, 2008 at 2:57
Craigg - Too right, he’s now an aerophobic b*stard and I hope he never comes back to Newcastle. Just the same as those turncoats Bruce and Charlton. I wish Charlton had just f*cking died on that runway.
17 JakartaDean // Apr 19, 2008 at 3:00
Sunderland have a very high percentage of their goals (76%) from open play. If there are a lot of whistles, I think Newcastle should be strongly favoured, as we’ll be much better from set pieces.
The good news is that the referee is Mike Dean, who’s given just over 4 cards per game. If we control set pieces and draw first blood, this derby should be ours.
Dean
18 Ross // Apr 19, 2008 at 4:01
51 times-shocking comment mate, gotta show a bit of respect.
19 Leo // Apr 19, 2008 at 9:34
yeah 51times that is a horrendous comment, keep sadistic comments like that off the blog
20 Leo // Apr 19, 2008 at 9:36
craigg RE: comment about mankies attendances- too right, they dont even fill their stadium with local people, its people from around not only the country but the world.
sorry for the late reply went out last nite, warming up for tomorrow. haha
21 Luke // Apr 19, 2008 at 15:11
Jakarta-Dean — you fat sam in disguise?
22 CRAIGG // Apr 19, 2008 at 17:43
Leo i was on about blunderland mate!
But man utd are full of day trippers as are liverpool ive been to see us at anfield a few times and was amazed at the ammount of Irish, Welsh and Cockneys in attendance
23 CRAIGG // Apr 19, 2008 at 18:24
51 times I love and share your hatred of Geordies who lick fergies behind but when i said Captain Marvel i meant Brian Robson!
I cannot Agree with the Dying on the runway Comment though its a bit harsh mate!
My Grandad used to play footy with Bobby and Jack in ashington, He hated them as well, He used to tell me how he used to kick jackie up his arse when he tackled them!!!
He also had a picture taken in 1955 with wor jackie in a pub in Newbiggin holding the FA cup And the 2nd division title with joe harvey in 1965
Leave a Comment