THERE is something about Hull City that can bring a crisis to Newcastle United's door.
In September 2008, Phil Brown took his newly-promoted side to St James' Park on a toxic afternoon. The anger felt from Kevin Keegan's resignation as manager flooded through the streets and congregated at Tyneside's football cathedral. The mood was poisonous.
Outside the ground supporters bought T-shirts that screamed "Cockney Mafia Out" – a message to owner Mike Ashley and director of football Dennis Wise – and stood alongside a giant advertising board that read "Bring Back King Kev".
One supporter, dressed somberly as a pall-bearer, carried a coffin he felt contained the heart and soul of Newcastle United.
The result was to be predicted. Already bereft of confidence and fearful of their own shadow, a side managed by caretaker Chris Hughton crumbled.
Marlon King's brace, with a goal either side of half-time, was enough to deliver an assured City side a first ever away win in the top flight and ensure the mood within St James' somehow darkened.
Six years and seven days on and history promises to repeat itself. Some of the cast members have changed, albeit not Ashley, but the mood is awfully familiar.
City are walking into a storm this afternoon. After a dismal run of form that dates back throughout 2014, Newcastle fans will protest against the rule of Alan Pardew by distributing 15,000 leaflets across the city. Last week's 4-0 loss at Southampton, for some, was the final straw.
Over 2,000 travelling fans will descend on St James' Park like spectators at the circus but, from experience, they will know the chances of collecting three points are only enhanced by the unrest.
So will Steve Bruce. Not only could the opening goal be divisive if it goes to the visitors, it could also be decisive. Such is the mood on Tyneside, it may not need much for the tide to turn.
With that in mind today's game must first be an exercise of control. Containing Newcastle for the opening quarter will do little to lift spirits of the natives and the longer the game stays level, the greater City's chances become.
That could well point towards the restoration of a three-man defence.
There should be no shortage of confidence among the visitors, though. Although West Ham United twice fought from behind to earn a deserved 2-2 draw at the KC Stadium on Monday, there was a promising feel about a side transformed by late, late business in the summer window.
Mohamed Diame has added bulk and drive to midfield, while Abel Hernandez wasted little time in establishing himself as a new attacking hero. The pair came at a price, £13.5m to be precise, but appear capable of lifting City.
A measure of the Tigers' ongoing progress comes with a comparison to last September. Tomorrow marks the passing of a year since the Tigers won at St James' Park but only Allan McGrgeor, Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamdy, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore appear certain to start both games.
That 3-2 victory was City's third on the spin at St James' Park and do not count against them making it four this afternoon.
Prediction: Newcastle Utd 0 Hull City 2
