Magpies look to consolidate

LONDON – Newcastle United will attempt to build on the encouraging performance that earned them a draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Wednesday when they host Birmingham City on Saturday.

A much-improved Newcastle, who had been under mounting pressure from angry fans, conceded an early goal to Emmanuel Adebayor on Wednesday before Stephen Taylor scored an equaliser to give Newcastle just their second point in six matches. They are 11th with 19 points, five more than 12th-placed Birmingham, who will not be easy as they showed on new manager Alex McLeish’s debut at Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday when they snatched a 3-2 injury time win.Newcastle manager San Allardyce admitted he had felt the pressure after two successive home defeats but said Wednesday’s performance had come as a relief and they must now go on to consolidate on their new-found confidence.Arsenal, away to Middlesbrough on Sunday, and champions Manchester United, at home to Derby County on Saturday, meet two teams mired in the relegation zone, looking to swat them aside in their race for the title.Arsenal, on 37 points from 15 matches, hold a four-points lead over second placed United.Third-placed Chelsea, two points behind United, are at home on Saturday to Sunderland.Liverpool, who with Arsenal are the only unbeaten teams in the league, are fourth with 30 points and travel to Reading on Saturday.Fifth-placed Manchester City, also on 30 points, visit a Tottenham side (Sunday 1500) impressive in attack but like a sieve at the back and languishing in 16th place with 12 points.Portsmouth’s visit to Aston Villa on Saturday brings together two sides on 27 points and looking to keep in touch with the coveted top five places for European competition.Nampa-ReutersThey are 11th with 19 points, five more than 12th-placed Birmingham, who will not be easy as they showed on new manager Alex McLeish’s debut at Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday when they snatched a 3-2 injury time win.Newcastle manager San Allardyce admitted he had felt the pressure after two successive home defeats but said Wednesday’s performance had come as a relief and they must now go on to consolidate on their new-found confidence.Arsenal, away to Middlesbrough on Sunday, and champions Manchester United, at home to Derby County on Saturday, meet two teams mired in the relegation zone, looking to swat them aside in their race for the title.Arsenal, on 37 points from 15 matches, hold a four-points lead over second placed United.Third-placed Chelsea, two points behind United, are at home on Saturday to Sunderland.Liverpool, who with Arsenal are the only unbeaten teams in the league, are fourth with 30 points and travel to Reading on Saturday.Fifth-placed Manchester City, also on 30 points, visit a Tottenham side (Sunday 1500) impressive in attack but like a sieve at the back and languishing in 16th place with 12 points.Portsmouth’s visit to Aston Villa on Saturday brings together two sides on 27 points and looking to keep in touch with the coveted top five places for European competition.Nampa-Reuters