The Augusta Masters starts this Thursday – and I can not wait!!

The TV in the Beatt household will be commandeered as it is for every golfing major (football match, cricket test, motor race…. )

I love the Masters – and the betting that goes with it! – I like to stay clear of short priced favourites such as Tiger, and instead like the each-way place bets on players such as Jim Furyk @ 35/1, Charl Schwartzel @ 50/1, Duston Johnson @66/1 and Steve Stricker @33/1.

Fingers crossed that one of this lot steams to the front come Sunday evening. It will be interesting to see how the great Tiger Woods will perform (on the course that is – not the bedroom). One thing in Tiger’s favour is that his first tournament after his ‘episode’ is the Masters. Security will be at it’s tightest for this event, the stewards will rule the galleries with a rod of iron, and to be honest, as it’s pretty much a members viewing gallery, and those that are in the know – I can’t really see Tiger getting too much agro from the crowds.

Els and Mickleson are always going to be in the running, and I’m fairly sure Tiger will be there or there abouts. This year’s open at St. Andrews may be a different equation – if the wind blows and the rain drives, I could see Tiger struggle round the Old Course – if the sun shines then he could tear it apart. I played there in the Summer – driving wind and rain, but really enjoyed it – keep left and out of the messy stuff and all should be ok.

Enjoy the golf!!

WE ARE PROMOTED!

Thanks to the goaless draw played out by Nottingham Forest and Cardiff – the good news is that regardless of what happens now, Newcastle United are guaranteed promotion now.

Five changes for tonight, with Houghton bringing back Danny Guthrie, Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez with Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands starting up front.

Hopefully a party atmosphere at St. James Park will lead to an emphatic home win tonight!

COME ON THE TOON!

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle Utd: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Kevin Nolan (c), Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll
Subs: Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Joey Barton, Leon Best, Nicky Butt, Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi

2-1 To The Toon

Goals from Peter Lovenkrands and a wonder scissor kick goal from Kevin Nolan seal promotion to the Premiership in style!!

Away to Peterborough United – a win for the toon and a defeat for Nottingham Forest away to Bristol City sees Newcastle guaranteed promotion! Happy days!

Peterborough 2 : 3 Newcastle United
Goals from Nolan, Barton and Ameobi gain the toon 3 more valuable points, and we are edging ever closer back to the top flight where we belong!

A good performance from the mag’s to edge us closer to promotion and winning the Coca Cola Championship in style. We’re on the verge of heading straight back up at the first attempt – thankfully!

Shola came of the bench to net with a fine effort, and a first goal from the classy Jose Enrique secured three points for the toon, in a horrible wet, windy evening.

Newcastle bossed the first half, and should really have scored a couple before the break.  Andy Carroll had the best chances, but the whole team looked composed and threatening – Forest didn’t really look like scoring, and in reality Newcastle were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty.

As the clock ticked past 70 minutes Shola took a well controlled shot, ending up at the back of the net to the delight of the 46,000 toon fans.  As the final whistle approached a well deserved goal by Jose Enrique cemented the joy for the toon faithful.  If we win on Saturday and Forest get beat we will be guaranteed automatic promotion.

Come on the toon!

After the much reported on training ground punch up between Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor, who would have scripted it – Carroll plays tonight in the Championship game at Doncaster and nets the only goal of the game.  Many will have viewed Chris Houghton’s decision to play Carroll tonight with disdain, but in the end – mercenary as it seems 3 points at this stage in the season is all important.  With Carroll still out on bail pending a serious incident in a toon nightspot, the jury has to be out as to what punishment should be meted out – it can hardly have been a slap in the face for Steven Taylor to have had a broken jaw, surgery required and two nights in hospital.  Probability is that he’s out for the rest of the season now, all in all – the form Carroll’s in and the goals he’s scoring are vital, but he needs to understand that the club is bigger than he is.  We were too soft and weak in dealing with the Joey Barton mess in the early days – and whilst credit is due and all that for his current meek demeanour, Barton came with baggage was given an opportunity and still spat it back in the clubs face.  Time will tell if Andy Carroll is going down a similar path, but would a Fergie, a Wenger or one of the old school manager’s put up with it…….

Anyway, on a positive note, the toon took all three points away – thanks to Andy Carroll.

Another 5 wins and the toon are guaranteed promotion. A 5.20pm kick-off for Sky TV.  Now, a bit of a quandary - will the local pub have the toon game on, given it’s the last weekend of the six nations – the Ireland – Scotland game will definitely be on in my local, maybe I’ll take a kitchen utensil down to do a bit of stirring…

Come on Andy Carroll – give us another couple of goals and make a claim for that famous number 9 shirt!

Match Result: 2 – 2

Andy Carroll’s 75th-minute equaliser salvaged a point for the Toon, after going two nil down in the first half.

Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard put the home side in a strong position, but a sloppy throw from Bristol keeper Dean Gerken gifted an opportunity for Jonas Guiterrez to pull one back.  Constant pressure from the Newcastle resulted in Andy Carroll hitting the well deserved equaliser to the delight of the 2,000 travelling toon fans.

Newcastle face a home tie against Scunthorpe tonight.  Surely a good three points are in the bag??  Fingers crossed big Andy Carroll keeps on hitting the back of the net!  Come on the Toon!!

Team News
Harper, Simpson, Enrique, Nolan, Coloccini, Hall, Routledge, Guthrie, Carroll,
Lovenkrands, Gutierrez
Subs: Kadar, Best, Ranger

3 – 0 to the toon!!

Andy Carroll nets a brace and Peter Lovenkrands bags another as the toon march on.  It’s now 22 victorious games from 36 with still another 10 to play before promotion..

We are now 4 points clear of second placed West Brom with a game in hand, and a full 12 points clear of Nottingham Forest in third place.  Next game is away to Bristol City on Saturday.

NUFC: Harper, Kadar, Hall, Coloccini (R.Taylor 50), Simpson, Gutierrez, Nolan, Guthrie, Pancrate (Best 78), Lovenkrands (Butt 70), Carroll.
Subs n/u: Krul, Enrique, Routledge, Ranger.

Goals: Lovenkrands 16, Carroll 82.