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Pardew Hoping To Leave City Feeling Blue
Written by Newcastle Utd
Newcastle have lost their last eight matches against Manchester City, but Alan Pardew is looking to change that in the Capital One Cup fourth round
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Alan Pardew is looking for Newcastle to end a miserable recent run against Manchester City on Wednesday night - and catapult themselves into the last eight of the Capital One Cup.
The Magpies have lost in their last eight meetings with the Blues - a run stretching back five years to October 2008, when Joe Kinnear was in charge as ten-man United earned a 2-2 draw on Tyneside.
And they've already been beaten once by Manuel Pellegrini's men this season after a 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium in their opening match of the campaign.
But City were bested by Chelsea at the weekend while Newcastle suffered derby disappointment at the hands of Sunderland, and Pardew is looking for his players to respond in the 7.45pm kick-off at St. James' Park.
He said: "They've been good. They've reacted in the way I would have liked - no finger pointing or anything, just a real steely determination to deal with the disappointment in the next game and that's what we're going to try and do.
"Man City has been a problem team for us. We haven't done very well against Man City so we're looking for a big improvement in that tomorrow.
"We're coming up against 11 internationals, even with probably a slightly weakened Man City team, so it's going to be a difficult game and it's difficult when you get drawn against the big guys, but hopefully we can spring a surprise."
City are expected to make a handful of changes, with England keeper Joe Hart one of several players likely to sit out, but Pardew will also take the opportunity to rotate his squad.
"I'm guessing Manchester City will do similar to myself - most Premier League teams will," he insisted. "You've got to give games to players that are pushing on the door and this is an opportunity to do that.
"We'll be strong, but we've got three games in six days so I've got to make sure that for our Premier Leagur games we're at full tilt.
"For this one tonight, I've got three or four players that I feel need to come in and play because they might have a chance of playing against Chelsea so it's an opportunity for players really close to our first team to make a stand for Chelsea because now that question's in front of me.
"What team will I play against Chelsea? I want a few people giving me a problem."
Cheick Tiote will again captain the side but two players definitely absent are Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor, who are still recovering from injury.
Pardew explained: "Both are not available for this game and I think both are probably strugging for Chelsea, but we have the return of Mapou (Yanga-Mbiwa) which is going to be important for us, because he's finding his feet in the Premier League.
"We think he'll be a good player and it's good to have him back."
Tickets for the cup tie at St. James' Park will be available on the turnstiles - click here for more details