......... play Ventspils, the current league leaders. Winners of the tie will enter the UEFA Cup first round proper.
The Magpies have given this competion high priority and have left little to chance in their preparation. Boss Glenn Roeder, has had the Latvians watched three times by his coaching staff and has enlisted the help of Paul Ashworth and Gary Johnson to pass on their indepth knowledge.
Johnson was the national coach and has kept many contacts in Latvia and knows the players well, he feels that the home side have given away any "edge" they had, by moving the tie some 300km to Riga, to enable the match to be televised. Very few "home" supporters are expected to travel.
Ashworth's advice may be even more valuable, he currently coaches Skonto Riga, second in the table, they beat Ventspils as recently as last weekend in the national cup.
Roeder has taken a very strong squad....
Given, Harper, Carr, Krul, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Moore, Ramage, Boumsong, Huntington, Butt, Parker, Solano, Emre, Duff, Pattison, N'Zogbia, O'Brien, Milner, Ameobi, Luque.
He will start with very much a first choice 11 and sees a good european run as vital in attracting top players to the club.
Linfield of Northern Ireland knocked out the Latvians in this competition last season and Newcastle should be far too good for them this time round. There is a huge gulf in class.
Not a price to make us rich, but a strong selection. I am going for the straight win, but feel they should cover the handicap.
4 points Newcastle 1.43 betfair.
Back later. Good Luck.
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