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An Away Day? Or More Home Comforts?
Written by Newcastle Utd
A statistical look back at Newcastle United's opening day fixtures during the Premier League era
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
The fixtures for 2015/16 are released on Wednesday at 9am, and Newcastle United have been given home games on the opening day for three of the last four seasons.
But the Magpies have kicked off more top flight campaigns on the road than at St. James' Park since their first season in the Premier League in 1993/94.
On Saturday, 14th August 1993, following their promotion from the old Division One, United lost 1-0 to Tottenham at St. James' Park - Teddy Sheringham with the only goal as Malcolm Allen and Nicos Papavasiliou made their debuts for Kevin Keegan's side.
Since then, Newcastle have been at home nine times and away 11 times on the opening day of a Premier League season, with an away game at West Bromwich Albion to start their successful season in the Championship in 2009/10.
Of their 21 opening day top-flight matches, they have won seven, drawn six and lost eight.
Highlights include the 3-0 win over Coventry in 1995, with Rob Lee, Peter Beardsley and Les Ferdinand on target as Newcastle went on to finish as runners-up behind Manchester United, and a 4-0 victory over West Ham in 2002.
Lomana LuaLua scored twice with Alan Shearer and Nobby Solano also on the scoresheet, with all of the goals coming in the final 30 minutes.
Having faced them on the opening day for the last two years (and lost on both occasions) Newcastle will perhaps simply be hoping to play somebody other than Manchester City when the 2015/16 season begins.
The Magpies' opening day Premier League record in full is as follows:
1993/94 Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham
1994/95 Leicester 1-3 Newcastle
1995/96 Newcastle 3-0 Coventry
1996/97 Everton 2-0 Newcastle
1997/98 Newcastle 2-1 Sheff Wed
1998/99 Newcastle 0-0 Charlton
1999/00 Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa
2000/01 Man United 2-0 Newcastle
2001/02 Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
2002/03 Newcastle 4-0 West Ham
2003/04 Leeds 2-2 Newcastle
2004/05 Middlesbrough 2-2 Newcastle
2005/06 Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
2006/07 Newcastle 2-1 Wigan
2007/08 Bolton 1-3 Newcastle
2008/09 Man United 1-1 Newcastle
2010/11 Man United 3-0 Newcastle
2011/12 Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
2012/13 Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham
2013/14 Man City 4-0 Newcastle
2014/15 Newcastle 0-2 Man City
Log on to nufc.co.uk at 9am on Wednesday to see Newcastle United's full Barclays Premier League fixture list for the 2015/16 campaign.