LET’S be honest, it could be worse.

When you’re looking to bounce back from a disappointing cup exit, there are many places you do not want to go to get a result.

A few years ago, St James’ Park would have been one of those places.

But Hull went there earlier this season and won, admittedly at a point where the messy departure of Kevin Keegan as manager had left the Geordies fighting among themselves rather than getting behind the side.

Now those 50,000 fans that fill their stadium can be a fantastic boon for their team, but they can also be a hindrance, turning on their players and booing them off.

Strip aside the venue and the fans and what are Stoke City up against? Newcastle have much the same team that came to the Britannia Stadium 11 months ago and were fortunate not to be knocked out of the FA Cup.

Mark Viduka is struggling to return from injury, Michael Owen looks to be in the twilight of his career and Shola Ameobi is leading the attack.

They are a better-organised team under Joe Kinnear than they were under Keegan, but that’s the least you would expect. Keegan was never a great tactician anyway.

Let’s face facts: for all plaudits he has had, Kinnear manages a team which has mustered three points fewer than the Potters this season. Hardly the sort of team Stoke should fear.

Of the Newcastle players expected to face us, only one name concerns me. Obefami Martins. He’s a class act and we’ll need to keep an eye on him.

But frankly this is the sort of game where a positive mental outlook and an attacking strategy could pay dividends.

Like our result against West Brom, beating Newcastle would put a relegation rival in their place.

So let’s go there and add another chapter to their miserable season.

I’m predicting Stoke to win a close game by 2-1.