Suspension bridge

The FA's decision today to ban Mike Williamson for three games for violent conduct - though, mercifully, no longer - coupled with Sideshow Bob already being suspended means that we'll be starting out against Chelsea with an all-new central defensive partnership, most likely consisting of Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor. Hopefully over the next few matches the duo can plug the gap left by two of our best performers this season - between them, they certainly can't claim Premier League inexperience...

The league leaders, meanwhile, warmed up for Sunday lunchtime's encounter by resting a number of players for the Champions League visit of Slovakian side MSK Zilina. They won the fixture 2-1 with a late Florent Malouda goal and former Toon loanee Patrick Van Aanholt playing a starring role from left back, supplying a succession of dangerous crosses and rattling the post with a fierce drive.