Newcastle V West Ham Barclays Premier League Match 24 -August 2013.Newcastle boss Alan Pardew must decide whether to recall Yohan Cabaye, who was left out of Monday's defeat at Manchester City following a transfer bid by Arsenal.Steven Taylor is suspended, Cheick Tiote faces a fitness test on a groin problem, and Jonas Gutierrez and Loic Remy are definitely out.Watch Newcastle V West Ham Live, Watch Newcastle V West Ham Live Stream, Watch Newcastle V West Ham Free Live Stream, Watch Newcastle V West Ham Online, Watch Newcastle V West Ham Online Free, Newcastle V West Ham Live, Newcastle V West Ham live stream Online.
West Ham remain without injured pair Andy Carroll and George McCartney.
There could be a debut for Razvan Rat and a first start for Stewart Downing.
MATCH PREVIEW
A former Newcastle United player once famously likened being at the club to living in a goldfish bowl, such was the intensity of the scrutiny that players and staff were constantly under.
As a one-club city and statistically the third best-supported side in the Premier League, every situation does appear to be viewed with enormous significance, so the developing feelings of angst which greeted the 4-0 mauling at the Etihad Stadium on Monday were to be expected.
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Image of Mark Lawrenson Mark Lawrenson Football analyst
"After what has happened at Newcastle this summer, including Joe Kinnear's appointment as director of football which I think has undermined manager Alan Pardew, I would expect a noisy reaction from the Magpies fans for their first home game of the season."
Read Lawro's full prediction and score
In reality, the result itself merely accentuated the overriding sense of negativity with which supporters have viewed the lack of transfer activity during the summer.
Their only addition, loanee Loic Remy, is injured so manager Alan Pardew currently has the same players with which he ended last season - less Yohan Cabaye, whose departure now seems imminent. Pardew has admitted that a new arrival would inject a much-needed morale boost.
That new face won't be in place in time for the visit of West Ham, a match for which he'll also be without the suspended Steven Taylor and injured Jonas Gutierez, two more consequences of the damaging defeat at Manchester City.
By contrast, the visitors will arrive in buoyant mood, not just because of their efficient opening-day win against Cardiff City but also with almost all their own squad assembly now complete.
Latest recruit Stewart Downing could well be in line for his first start in a side that will contain Newcastle's former skipper Kevin Nolan. His committed two and half years on Tyneside are still appreciated, despite his winning goal for the Hammers in the same fixture last year.
That another ex Magpie Sam Allardyce has won at St James' Park on his last three visits only adds to the intrigue.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
This is the 124th game between the two clubs in all competitions. Newcastle lead by 46 wins to West Ham's 38.
The last time Newcastle won this fixture was in January 2011 when Kevin Nolan scored in a 5-0 thrashing - their biggest ever win over West Ham
West Ham won at St James' Park for the first time in 10 attempts last season, with ex-Magpie Nolan the match-winner.
Sam Allardyce's team were the only side that managed to keep a clean sheet both home and away against Newcastle United in the Premier League last season.
Newcastle
Alan Pardew's side have only earned five points from their last seven matches and sit bottom of the Premier League on goal difference.
Monday's drubbing was Newcastle's heaviest opening-day defeat in the top flight since 1988 (0-4 v Everton).
Newcastle are trying to avoid losing a fourth Premier League game in a row for the first time.
Steven Taylor's red card on Monday was Newcastle's fifth since the start of last season; only Arsenal (6) have had more dismissals over the same period.
West Ham
West Ham were the only team not to win consecutive Premier League games last season.
The Hammers have won just one of their last 14 away games in the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce has presided over victories in his last three visits to Newcastle with West Ham, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.
Allardyce was sacked by Newcastle after 24 games in 2008, describing it as one of the "lowest points in his career".
Kevin Nolan has scored in three of the last four Premier League encounters between these two sides, although two of those goals came for Newcastle United.