Birmingham City

The Tangerines head into the decider with a 1-0 advantage after a Curtis Davies own-goal handed them the slenderest of victories when the two sides met at Bloomfield Road on Friday.

But Blues boss Chris Hughton is not ready to wave the white flag just yet, and is backing his men to overturn the deficit and book their place at Wembley.

“They are probably slight favourites because they have that one-goal lead, but the semi-final is not over yet at all,” said the former Newcastle United manager.

“My thoughts are very much on how we play and if we’re able to impose ourselves on them more than perhaps we did then we’ve got a chance.”

Birmingham are 10/11 favourites to win the second leg after 90 minutes, while Blackpool are available at the relatively generous price of 3/1.

There is no away goals rule in the Football League play-offs, which means that any Birmingham victory by a one-goal margin would be enough to take the tie into extra time.

City are priced at 6/1 to win the game 1-0, while 2-1 is available at 7/1 and 3-2 is on offer at 25/1.

Hughton’s men took the spoils during the regular Championship season, securing a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road before recording a comfortable 3-0 victory on home turf.

Birmingham would undoubtedly be delighted to repeat the feat when they welcome the Seasiders to St Andrews for a second time this season, and a repeat scoreline of 3-0 is available at 14/1.

Both teams have shown prolific form in front of goal this season, with only Southampton and West Ham finding the net more often during the regular campaign.

Leading the way for Birmingham is experienced former Premier League star Marlon King, although he has been ably supported in the ‘goals for’ column by team-mates Chris Burke and Nikola Zigic.

Zigic found the net the last time these two sides met at St Andrews and is worth considering at 6/1 to score the first goal or the same price to get the last, having been left on the bench in the first leg.

But while King has led the way for Birmingham, Blackpool have depended on another former Premier League star for goals.

Sunderland legend and former Blues marksman Kevin Phillips has netted 16 times this season and is priced rather generously at 15/2 to score the first goal and 15/2 to score the last.

The experienced star is certainly worth considering, and would surely love nothing more than to fire his side into the final at the expense of his old club.

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Newcastle

Speculation has been rife this week that the former Republic of Ireland international would be getting the hook in the coming weeks despite having got the Toon promoted last season.

The Tyneside outfit haven’t made a bad start to life in the Premier League after blitzing the Championship and are currently tenth with three wins from their first nine matches.

Despite having guided the team through a difficult period following relegation Hughton is still one of the favourites to become the next Premier League manager to get the sack.

Wednesday’s Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal did nothing to relieve the press on Hughton and Newcastle were forced to issue a statement insisting they had no intentions of sacking their manager, claiming they want to extend his current deal.

Despite the statement all the build-up to the Tyne-Wear derby continues to be focused on Hughton and whether or not he will be in charge for much longer.

The likes of Alan Pardew and Joe Kineaar have been linked with the job but Nolan has now come out to lend his support to his manager, insisting that he is “110 per cent” behind Hughton.

“No matter what happens on Sunday we are going to still be 110 per cent behind Chris Hughton,” Nolan told Sky Sports News.

“For the statements, for anything else we don’t care what anyone else says outside. As a group of players, as a squad, as a staff and I believe as fans too, we believe we are going in the right direction and the main focal point and the main leader in that is Chris Hughton.

“I think the talk is absolutely ridiculous on him having to win a game to stay in his job, it is absolutely ridiculous.

“No matter what, we want to see Chris Hughton in charge of us and we believe we are going in the right way with him in charge of us.”

Sunday’s visit of local rivals Sunderland (14/1 to be relegated) will be Hughton’s biggest test since he  got Newcastle (9/2) promoted and could go a long way to sealing his fate as Newcastle boss.

He will be hoping the Toon can keep up their recent good record against the Black Cats having lost just three times in 16 Premier League matches against their local neighbours.

Having rested the majority of his big-name players for this fixture Hughton has no new injury concerns, although Steven Taylor did lose his race against time to recover from a shoulder injury.

Sunderland have an almost fully-fit squad to choose from after Kieran Richardson returned from a hamstring injury, with just David Meyler and Frazier Campbell sidelined with long-term problems.

The Black Cats will be looking for their first win at St James’ Park since 2000 when now chairman Niall Quinn won the match with a towering header.

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Newcastle

Hughton’s current deal at St James’ Park runs out at the end of the season and as yet there is no conclusion to any negotiations, which has put the rumour-mill into overdrive about his immediate future and the fact that he could be on his way beforehand.

Despite suffering a 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal (2/1 – outright betting) in the Carling Cup, Newcastle released a statement backing the manager and insist that the club plans to retain Hughton’s services.

The statement said: “Chris is our manager and will remain our manager, and it is our intention to re-negotiate his contract at the end of the year.”

For his part, Hughton has also insisted that he intends to stay at the club but has admitted that ongoing speculation is becoming a bit of a distraction.

“It’s difficult not to [notice the speculation] but I can’t do anything about that apart from the best job possible,” said Hughton. “I had a remit last season to get into the Premier League and this season it is to keep us in the division. So far, we’ve had our ups and downs but done OK.

“I can’t affect anything that is said but I think it is unfair. As far as I am concerned I’m a very strong character and have to work around these situations.

“I have a job to do and a group of players that have been wonderful for me. We have a focus and nothing will detract from that.

“I’ve been at this club for two and a half years and have thoroughly enjoyed it and I would like to stay here as long as possible.”

Newcastle have enjoyed a mixed season so far but Saturday’s come-from-behind win at West Ham saw the club climb up to ninth in the table, above Aston Villa on 11 points due to a better goal difference.

Next up for the Magpies (11/10 90 minutes betting) is the derby clash at home to Sunderland (23/10 to win, 23/10 the draw) in Sunday’s early kick-off and Hughton is expected to recall the big guns after fielding his fringe players against the Gunners on Wednesday night.

Sunderland are just one point above Newcastle in the table but have yet to win on the road in the Premier League this season, although they have only lost once with three draws from four games.

Newcastle have hardly made St James’ Park a fortress on their return to the top-flight with just one win – albeit a 6-0 hammering of Aston Villa, having lost to Blackpool and Stoke.

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Newcastle

The Gateshead-born hitman has rifled in four league goals so far this season – including a hat-trick against Aston Villa – to jointly lead the scoring charts alongside Chelsea duo Didier Drogba (2/1f) and Florent Malouda (28/1) plus Arsenal speedster Theo Walcott (40/1).

Carroll’s form is understood to have put Hughton’s former club Tottenham, who the 51-year-old served as a coach and player for over 25 years, on alert as they look to strengthen their forward options in the mid-season transfer window.

But the Magpies’ relative weakness in attacking options means Hughton is determined to hang on to his star man.

“Amused is probably the right word – I thought the window had closed,” Hughton told reporters when quizzed over Spurs’ reported interest in the 21-year-old.

“Of course, I have heard the speculation and it is probably testament to him and the season he has had so far, albeit we are only four games in.

“He has started the season very well and with any player who is doing well, you expect some speculation.

“But from our point of view, there is absolutely nothing in it – and we don’t want there to be either.”

Newcastle’s season continues on Saturday with a trip to slow-starting Everton who will be hoping to build on last weekend’s last-gasp 3-3 draw against Manchester United at Goodison (Everton 4/7, draw 13/5, Newcastle 5/1 – 90 minutes).

Carroll’s build-up to the game has been hampered by an ankle knock but he looks set to take his place in the side while there could be a first start for veteran defender Sol Campbell following three reserve-team appearances.

However, the Magpies are still without summer signings Dan Gosling (knee) and Leon Best (ankle).

Everton captain Phil Neville is available for selection after a foot injury accounted for the former England international during the opening four games of the Premier League season.

Following an appearance for the reserves against West Ham, he told the Blues’ website: “I think it was important that I played.

“I’m glad to get 90 minutes under my belt and I’m ready to play against Newcastle on Saturday.

“It’s so important (to play) as you can train as hard as you want but 90 minutes against West Ham, who played a strong team, is like money in the bank.”

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Newcastle United

The Magpies are now back in the English top flight following one season in the Championship after stand-in boss Alan Shearer failed to keep them in the Premier League towards the end of the 2008-2009 campaign.

The North-East giants ran away with the Championship last season and will hope to re-establish themselves in the top division having surrendered their top-flight status in May 2009 following sixteen successive seasons in the Premier League.

Despite calls to strengthen the squad, Hughton has only brought in Sol Campbell, James Perch and Dan Gosling to date, with just a couple of weeks to go before the transfer window closes until January.

Newcastle and United had a number of memorable encounters during Kevin Keegan’s time in charge at St James’ Park, when the Tynesiders were a match for the majority of Premier League teams, but their star has waned in recent years culminating in relegation just over 12 months ago.

But a wave of optimism is now back at the club and they will be looking to cement their place in the best league in Europe this season.

Hughton admits the fixture computer could have been kinder to his side but he is looking to draw on the performance of the players a couple of seasons ago, when they drew 1-1 with Sir Alex Ferguson’s team on the opening day at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ (Man Utd 2/9 to beat Newcastle).

“Looking at Manchester United and the squad they’ve got and the quality they’ve got, it will be a massive challenge for us,” he said. “But this is what we worked so hard for last season to get straight back up into this division.

“It’s probably not the ideal choice. I think the ideal choice would have been to have a home game but we have been there before on the first game of the season two seasons ago and we certainly gave a very good account of ourselves so we’re aware that everything’s possible even though we’re massive underdogs.”

United are out to win back the Premier League trophy after losing out to Chelsea in the race for the title last term and they have already shown that they are well up for the fight with victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the Community Shield last weekend.

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Newcastle United

The Magpies are back in the Premier League after a season’s absence in which they dominated the Championship.

Now the North-East club are looking to utilise all the key players that helped them secure promotion last season as they look to retain their Premier League status.

Owner Mike Ashley has told Hughton that he will not be able to spend big this summer on new signings, making it even more imperative that the likes of Steven Taylor, Andy Carroll and Jonas Gutierrez stay at the club.

Hughton started as the care-taker manager of Newcastle but impressed after guiding the club back to the top flight.

The 51-year-old has stated that other clubs should look elsewhere for signings this summer.

He said:  “I can categorically say that we have not had one bid or any interest in any of our first team players and we wouldn’t welcome any either.

“There have been no offers for either Steven or Andy. They are important players for us.

“The interest that we’ve had in our players has been about the younger lads, possibly taking them on loan, and that is something that we have to decide on later in the summer.”

Newcastle have been linked with signings of their own in this transfer window.

Bolton Wanderers have reportedly turned down a £1m bid from the Magpies for the defender Jlloyed Samuel.

The 29-year-old has 12 months left on his current deal at the Reebok Stadium and the former Aston Villa player has not featured in Owen Coyle’s plans.

Newcastle could be tempted to offer an improved bid as Hughton looks to strengthen his squad with a long season ahead.

The St James’ Park club have also declared their interest in the former Bolton loan player Jack Wilshere.

The Arsenal (6/1 to win the Premier League) youngster is set to have another season on loan from the Emirates Stadium as he looks to develop his game by playing regular football.

Hughton has expressed his interest in the 18-year-old for next season.

He said: “Wilshere is a very good young player and I think young players should get the chance to mature. They are the type of players I am looking at.”

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