Newcastle have still been firing up top
And on that note, it’s mighty impressive that in a season that feels like they’ve always got at least half their starting XI out injured Newcastle have already matched their 38-game Premier League goal-scoring record.
The Magpies have 74 this term, which draws them level with the team of 2001-02.
Alexander Isak has been such a huge part of that, and he is now one away from becoming just the fifth Newcastle striker to get 20 in a single top-flight season.
Bench boost for Magpies
Newcastle have become synonymous with injuries this term – but they’ve got Pope, Joelinton and Almiron ALL returning to the bench!
That injured XI just got a heck of a lot weaker.
Plenty of changes across the grounds
So we’ve got two changes each from Brentford and Fulham, with Lewis-Potter and Damsgaard in for Jensen and Wissa for the hosts, while Lukic is in for Reed and Willian comes in for De Cordova-Reid for Silva’s side.
Sheffield United meanwhile make just the one alteration with Robinson replacing Holgate, and Montiel and Yates get the nod ahead of Williams and Niakhate.
And lastly up at Turf Moor, it’s Brownhill replacing Fofana, and Howe brings in Krafth and Wilson for Schar and Anderson.
Plenty of changes across the grounds.
Burnley vs Newcastle XIs
And last but by no means least…
Time for some team news!
Right then, whose ready for some team news?
Blades could break a 30-year record today…
Well for those looking at the numbers before kick-off at Bramall Lane – Sheffield United are three goals away from equalling the record for most goals conceded.
Swindon Town let in 100 in 1993-94 – back when we had 42-game seasons – and the Blades are currently on 97.
After this miserable campaign for Sheffield United, that is one record that they really could do without breaking.
As for Forest, what a few weeks it’s been up at the City Ground.
There was THAT tweet after the Everton game that seemed to light the football world on fire, and while that has largely died down, there was the news that Mark Clattenburg has left his role as a board consultant.
The former Premier League referee’s exit comes after manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Neco Williams were charged by the FA for comments made about officials’ integrity following the loss to Everton.
Oh, how they could do with a nice, quiet 2-0 win with no frills attached.
And now to Bramall Lane
Newcastle aren’t the only ones enjoying a trip down memory lane ahead of KO.
It’s not been the most enjoyable season for the already-relegated Blades, but there was one moment of magic in their last clash with Forest.
Some way to open your account, eh?
Look away Fulham fans…
And speaking of that rivalry, Brentford has been something of a horror trip for Fulham in recent seasons.
Fulham have lost six of their last seven trips to the Bees in all competitions, that one victory coming seven-and-a-half years ago in November 2016.
Not the best reading for Fulham fans, so sorry about that – but at least the Craven Cottage outfit have taken a club record 15 points from London derbies this term (4W 3D 4L), so there’s that…
Big clash in west London
This is about the point in the season where we look at games like Brentford vs Fulham and say things like ‘they’re already on the beach’ and ‘they’ll have taken their feet of the gas pedal by now’.
Brentford are out of the relegation battle, Fulham can’t get Europe, what else can there be to fight for!
Rubbish if you ask me – there’s still plenty of incentive for finishing as high up the table as possible, and that’s before you get into the local bragging rights for this west London derby.
Wondering what’s going on behind the scenes at St James’ Park? Eager to find the stories beyond the headlines? Just really like reading about Dougie Freedman?
Well for any of the above you can check out Craig Hope’s Newcastle Notebook at the link below…
How about this for a hit?!
Before the chaos of six different starting XIs dropping in about 25 minutes, let’s just take a look around the grounds…
First up is Newcastle and how about this one for a hit!
Good memories for the Magpies from their last clash with Vincent Kompany’s side
What’s on offer then?
So, as we know now, we’ve got three games across the country with plenty on the line.
For Newcastle it’s a chance to solidify their European bid, while Burnley can move closer to surely the escape of all escapes with a win that would actually draw them out of the bottom three with results going their way.
Sheffield United might be down already, but Forest are also looking to beat the drop and would love to be able to capitalise on Luton’s 1-1 draw last night with a few points of their own to put some much needed daylight between them and the Hatters.
And then there’s the west London derby in the third game between local rivals Brentford and Fulham – what’s not to love?!
Hello!
Good afternoon one and all and welcome to Mail Sport’s LIVE coverage of the three 3pm KOs for today.
We’ve got action from all across the country, with Brentford hosting Fulham, Newcastle travelling to Burnley, and Sheffield United welcoming Nottingham Forest to Bramall Lane.
Stick with us for the next 90 minutes or so as we build up to all three of those games with all the latest news and goings on from around the grounds!