3:41PM, Sun Oct 7, 2012

Newcastle v Manchester United Preview

Video: Newcastle v Man United preview - Pardew, Rob Lee and Ferguson

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Video: James Craggs with a preview for Newcastle v Manchester United featureing Pardew, Rob Lee and Ferguson

One of the classic rivalries from the Premier League era is renewed on Sunday afternoon when Newcastle United and Manchester United meet at St James' Park.

Since their days of slugging it out for the title in the mid-1990s, the pair have always considered themselves foes and their encounters are regularly engrossing.

But it is not just an entertainment factor which Alan Pardew and Sir Alex Ferguson, respectively, will be searching on Tyneside this weekend.

Expectations are high at Newcastle after only missing out on the UEFA Champions League on the final day of last season but they have made an inconsistent start to this campaign.

They were fortunate to draw at Reading last weekend courtesy of Demba Ba's handled goal and have won just two league games from six so far to leave them sitting 10th in the table.

Pardew, with his new eight-year contract, will therefore be determined for a repeat of last season's memorable 3-0 win over Manchester United at St James' Park.

Sting

Video: Pardew on why facing Man United is always tough

Newcastle will also be confident, as they are unbeaten in their last three league matches against Ferguson's side, having not gone four without a defeat against the Red Devils since 1989.

Just one defeat in their last 13 games at St James' Park is also a reason for Newcastle, who comfortably won at Bordeaux in the Europa League on Thursday, to be full of self-belief but they did lose at Manchester United in the Capital One Cup at the end of September.

Manchester United, meanwhile, will still be stinging from their historic home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, although they did bounce back against Cluj in midweek in the Champions League.

The loss was Ferguson's side's second of the season in the Premier league and they will know they cannot afford anymore early slip-ups after already conceding a four-point gap to leaders Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney will hope to be recalled to United's first XI, as he has scored 10 Premier League goals against Newcastle, which is his joint-best haul against any opponent in the competition.

Paul Scholes has likewise scored more goals against Newcastle than versus any other Premier League opponent (9), while Robin van Persie has netted five goals in his last five top-flight starts against the Magpies.

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Barclays Premier League

Pos	Team	P	Pts
14	Southampton	38	41
15	Aston Villa	38	41
16	Newcastle United	38	41
17	Sunderland	38	39
18	Wigan Athletic	38	36

Fixtures & Results

April

Europa League Group D - Thu 4
FT	Benfica	3-1	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 7
FT	Newcastle	1-0	Fulham
Europa League Group D - Thu 11
FT	Newcastle	1-1	Benfica
Barclays Premier League - Sun 14
FT	Newcastle	0-3	Sunderland
Barclays Premier League - Sat 20
FT	West Brom	1-1	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sat 27
FT	Newcastle	0-6	Liverpool

May

Barclays Premier League - Sat 4
FT	West Ham	0-0	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 12
FT	QPR	1-2	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 19
FT	Newcastle	0-1	Arsenal