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United's Opening Day Home Comforts
Written by Newcastle Utd
Newcastle have lost just once at home on the opening day of a Premier League season in the last 20 years
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
It's often said that the atmosphere at St. James' Park is worth an extra man, and when the Newcastle United faithful have gone an entire summer without seeing their team in action the decibel levels become even higher.
And that is reflected in the fact that the Magpies have lost just once at home on the opening day of a season - a surprise 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the beginning of the 1999/2000 campaign - in the last 20 years.
The Barclays Premier League fixtures for 2014/2015 were announced on Wednesday morning, with champions Manchester City heading to Tyneside on the first weekend.
Although the two sides met at the Etihad Stadium in their first match of last term, United have never before hosted the Blues in an opening day clash.
Two years ago, Newcastle beat Tottenham at Gallowgate on the first day while a 0-0 draw with Arsenal kicked off the 2011/2012 season as Alan Pardew's side went on to finish fifth.
United won 2-1 against Wigan at the beginning of 2006/2007 and thrashed West Ham 4-0 in August 2002.
In 1998, Kenny Dalglish oversaw a 0-0 draw with Charlton which proved to be his last game in charge and 12 months earlier a brace from Faustino Asprilla gave the Magpies a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
And at the beginning of 1995/1996, Kevin Keegan's Entertainers beat Coventry 3-0.
Newcastle United's opening day Premier League record at St. James' Park
1993/94 - Newcastle 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
1995/96 - Newcastle 3-0 Coventry City
1997/98 - Newcastle 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
1998/99 - Newcastle 0-0 Charlton Athletic
1999/00 - Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa
2002/03 - Newcastle 4-0 West Ham United
2006/07 - Newcastle 2-1 Wigan Athletic
2011/12 - Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
2012/13 - Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur