An impressively organised display of intelligent defending earned Newcastle a 0-0 Europa League draw in Russia against Guus Hiddink's Anzhi laston Thursday, reinforcing the feeling that Alan Pardew's team are far too good to go down. Yet Newcastle remain in relegation danger and Stoke will hope the long flight back from Moscow in the early hours of Friday catches up with them. Tomorrow's outcome will determine plans for the home leg against Anzhi. "I need a win against Stoke to have the freedom to play a strong side on Thursday," said Pardew, whose team visit Wigan next Sunday. Louise Taylor
Venue St James' Park, Sunday 3pm
Tickets £26-51 (0844 372 1892)
Last season Newcastle 3 Stoke 0
Referee Andre Marriner
This season's matches 18 Y59, R0, 3.28 cards per game
Odds Newcastle 17-20 Stoke 17-5 Draw 12-5
Newcastle United v Stoke City: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic Newcastle United
Subs from Alnwick, Haidara, Simpson, Perch, Anita, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi, Gouffran
Doubtful Cissé (illness)
Injured Krul (ankle, Apr), Coloccini (back, May), R Taylor (knee, Aug), Vuckic (knee, Aug), Harper (knee, unknown)
Suspended None Form guide LWLWWL
Disciplinary record Y53 R2
Leading scorer Cissé 6
Stoke
Subs from Sorensen, Whitehead, Palacios, Cameron, Adam, Crouch, Shea, Etherington, Edu
Doubtful Etherington (back)
Injured None
Suspended Huth (second of three)
Form guide LLWLDL
Disciplinary record Y57 R3
Leading scorer Crouch, Walters 5
Match pointers
• Stoke have lost six of their previous eight league games
• Newcastle have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League games
• Stoke haven't scored in five of their past six league away games and have have scored the lowest number of away goals in the league, eight
• Newcastle have come from behind to win their past two home games in the league
• Stoke have the most yellow cards from fouls, 48
• Stoke have had 19 shots on target from outside the box, fewer than Gareth Bale
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