PUNTERS PANEL; Our panel give their views on the game against Blackburn Rovers

OMAR MIRZA

SO the mess Ashley has created worsens as even El Tel won't touch us with a barge pole. Unfortunately we'll probably have an unchanged line-up for this one proving just how lightweight our squad is. I'd love to predict that we'll hammer Blackburn with a sizzling display of exhibition football, but we won't. A point at best I'm afraid. Depressing.

PREDICTION: Newcastle 1 Blackburn 1

LEN JONES

THIS is a match we cannot afford to lose - after four consecutive defeats even a draw would be welcome result on Saturday.

Blackburn have had a steady start to the season and have always been an organised, hard-working side. United will have to match them man for man over the full 90 minutes if a loss is to be avoided. The midfield needs to work harder together as a unit and the defence must avoid gifting the opposition goalscoring opportunities. Assuming we can manage this, and Michael Owen continues his recent goalscoring form, it is possible to get something out of a fixture in recent seasons we would expect to get all three points in.

PREDICTION: Newcastle 1 Blackburn 1

IAN KNOX

I WOULD like to see Edgar start at right-back, push Geremi into midfield with Butt, Charlie and Duff, with the same front two.

A tight 4-4-2, with a full house again, the atmosphere is bound to be electric. I back Toon to scrape it by the odd Owen wonder-goal.

PREDICTION: Newcastle 1 Blackburn 0

DAVID SPOORS

AFTER a soul-destroying performance midweek against the club that are saving us the embarrassment of being the foot of the Premiership table, Newcastle need to snap out of this downward spiral and our senior professionals need to display some leadership, take responsibility and bring the game to Blackburn tomorrow. The lack of Guthrie and Jonas in midfield is seriously inhibiting our creativity and supply to our forwards. We need to see some quality supply and good chances created for Owen and Martins. We need to end this misery, restore some confidence and get some points on the board. It doesn't matter who is in the dugout - do it for the fans.

PREDICTION: Newcastle 1 Blackburn 0

ROBIN KENNEDY

EL TEL turned us down! We really are in a mess. Chris Hughton does not have a lot of options ahead of this match. It is likely to be the same team which played against Spurs on Wednesday. A significantly larger crowd will hopefully give the players added incentive and, with a little bit of lady luck, we may just get a positive result.

PREDICTION: United 3 Blackburn 1

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