Newcastle United players are more than fired up for Boro
When it comes to Newcastle United taking on Middlesbrough then in my opinion this fixture means much more to the Teessiders than it does to most Geordies.
But as far as Newcastle's promotion chances are concerned, victory at the Riverside, against a Boro team who look like they can't wait to get this season just out of the way, and then three more against Scunthorpe United will go a long way to helping the Magpies fly back to the promised land.
The usual "Is it a derby or not" debate has raised its ugly head again this week and rattled a few cages.
But what has been clear from the Newcastle players has been that they are treating it just like a derby because that's exactly what the Boro are doing.
In fact speaking to some of the players at the training ground today they simply couldn't wait for the game to start and that can only bode well for Saturday.
Last season this fixture looked to have sent the two teams heading different directions after Alan Shearer took charge of a 3-1 win over Boro at St James' Park.
That night, I honestly thought we were going to be OK but it was the 1-0 loss against Fulham that really proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
With both teams now desperate to get back to the Premier League - and Newcastle seemingly on the brink of exactly that - does this game carry even more significance than last season's relegation battle?
*What are your thoughts on Newcastle's clash with Boro.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Deffo a derby for me as i am from Hartlepool. that defeat to Fulham was definately the straw that broke the Donkeys jaw bone.
would take a point right now
Bri, i can see where your coming from kid.
This has got to be 3 ponts in the bag game.
Everyone must be fired up even though it's the donkey -derby-no pun on the mexican tradition.
I don't see it as a derby, i think it is something that the smoggies have tried to get hold of as they don;t really have one.
Especially as Boro were once part of Yorkshire, even they didn't want them.
I have been quite callous in my predictions of 3-0. I just don't see boro as a threat but maybe that is because i don't really like them? I'm not sure.
We have a better team on paper, and while that hasn't meant a great deal over past seasons, i think there is not a worse time to be playing Newcastle right now. the atmosphere in SJP against Barnsley was great, the team looked creative - even Pancake had a good game - and CH seems to be trying more adventurous tactics.
If we get an early first goal then i think its game over. i honestly don't think Boro have the team to beat us.
Of course "form goes out of the window" to put a cliche' on it but we have no reason to fear them. If they have passion to beat us, we have passion and skill to beat them.
3-0 ;p
ginola; if you don't think its a derby why would you say 'form goes out of the window'? -of course it is a derby they're only 45mins down the road...