NEU » le-A. . 1B C.J. Cron (hand) plans

Newcastle have sacked Steve McClaren but what went wrong for him at St James Park? We take a look...Newcastles defeat to Bournemouth - their seventh in their past 10 Premier League games - leaves them stuck in the relegation zone and, although they have a game in hand on the teams around them, a nine point gap to fifth-bottom Swansea means they are effectively in a battle with Norwich, Sunderland and Aston Villa to avoid a drop into the Championship.Newcastles pre-season target was a top eight finish. Instead they are facing relegation. Paul Merson reflects on Newcastles 3-1 home defeat by Bournemouth Following news Newcastle have sacked McClaren in a bid to kick-start their survival bid, we look at five of their problems…Goal scoring Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored just five times this season For a club renowned for their number nines, Newcastle are desperately lacking a goalscorer this season. Only bottom club Aston Villa have scored fewer goals.Newcastles top scorer is Georginio Wijnaldum with nine - but four of those strikes came in one game against Norwich. The clubs main striker Aleksandar Mitrovic - signed last summer for £13m after impressing in Belgium - has managed just five goals in the Premier League and was dropped to the bench against Bournemouth. Premier League teams - goals scored Rank Team Goals scored T1 Leicester, Man City 52 - - - T18 Newcastle, Swansea 28 20 Aston Villa 22 Meanwhile, Ayoze Perez, who has scored six times, has been in and out of the side, with McClaren questioning his consistency, Papiss Cisse is out with injury and Emmanuel Riviere, who has scored just once since his July 2014 arrival, doesnt seem to be the solution.The Newcastle forwards, though, may point to the fact that the team has created just 232 chances this season - the fourth lowest total in the Premier League. Injuries Striker Papiss Cisse is on Newcastles long injury list Every team has injury problems to deal with but Newcastle have been particularly badly hit, with 11 players currently sidelined, according to physioroom.com. Thats the highest total among Premier League clubs.Fabricio Coloccini, Cheick Tiote and new signing Andros Townsend were all missed against Bournemouth, while Newcastle could certainly do with the goalscoring talent of Cisse.First-choice goalkeeper Tim Krul is another long-term absentee, while Gabriel Obertan and Chancel Mbemba are also among the long list of potential first-teamers in the treatment room.New signings failing to perform January signing Henri Saivet has made just two starts Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Mbemba and Florian Thauvin were expensive signings last summer and the board backed McClaren with finances in January, bringing in Henri Saivet, Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend. However, none have had the desired impact so far.Wijnaldum is perhaps the pick of the summer recruits, showing in flashes what made him an integral part of PSVs Eredivisie title-winning team last season, while Shelvey has contributed three assists since his January arrival from Swansea. Steve McClaren says the negative chanting from the Newcastle fans was justified The problem for McClaren was that not enough of those big-money signings performed to the standards Newcastle expected on a regular basis. Only Shelvey averages above 7/10 on WhoScored.coms statistically-based ratings system.Lost support of the fans Newcastle were booed off at St James Park on Saturday The poor results under McClaren - on the back of several seasons of disappointment - have left the St James Park faithful frustrated and angry with the teams current plight. As a result, Newcastles home ground is currently an unhappy home for the clubs players, according to Paul Merson.These fans have to stick with them, the Soccer Saturday pundit said after Newcastles defeat to Bournemouth.After 10-15 minutes, the players went into their shells. They couldnt handle it. Only Shelvey and Daryl Janmaat could. The fans were on their backs. They have to get behind them for the next lot of games.I know its frustrating and they pay a lot of money to go and watch their team but for these games they have to stick with them. Newcastle managers Steve McClaren John Carver Alan Pardew Games 28 20 185 Won 6 3 71 Drawn 6 4 41 Lost 16 13 73 Win % 21.4 15 38.4 Defeats to bottom-half rivals Bournemouth are the latest bottom-half side to beat Newcastle In his final press conference, McClaren said Newcastle are now in a mini league of four - but results against teams around them has been a major problem this season.While Newcastle have beaten Tottenham and Liverpool and twice drawn with Manchester United, they have lost to every team in the bottom half at least once this season, with the exception of Norwich.In fact, Newcastle have won 14 points against teams currently in the top half of the Premier League and managed just 10 against teams 11th or below.With Sunderland, Norwich and Swansea to play in their next five fixtures, an upturn in form against their fellow strugglers is imperative for Newcastle. Watch Leicester v Newcastle live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Monday, March 14, from 7pmAlso See:Newcastle sack McClarenFive games which cost McClarenMcClaren in quotesAustin Seibert Browns Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Sheldrick Redwine Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Jarvis-Landry-Jersey/ . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Ozzie Newsome Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Greedy Williams Womens Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca.CHICAGO -- John Lackey was ornery and fired up, just what the Cubs needed from their veteran right-hander to keep rolling.Lackey outpitched friend and former teammate Jered Weaver, Kris Bryant hit his 28th home run and Chicago beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 Tuesday night for its eighth straight victory.Willson Contreras also homered and Ben Zobrist added an RBI double for the major league-leading Cubs, who won their 70th game and moved a season-high 29 over .500.Kole Calhoun homered on Lackeys third pitch, but the former Angels right-hander later retired 12 straight. Lackey (9-7) allowed three hits over eight innings, and all six of his strikeouts were looking.Hes not going to be out there smiling all the time and hes going to be upset with umpires and hes going to be upset with his manager, said Cubs skipper Joe Maddon, who was with the Angels when Lackey started his career in 2002. Hes going to be upset with teammates on occasion. But thats just who he is, and when you know that, its OK. Because you love having him on your team.Weaver (8-9) gave up four earned runs and another one that was unearned when he dropped a throw to first base for an error during the Angels fifth straight loss.Bryant homered over the left-field bleachers in the fifth, giving Lackey more than enough cushion. Pedro Strop pitched a perfect ninth to finish the three-hitter.I thought he had an exceptional slider tonight and a really good changeup, Maddon said about Lackey.The matchup of veteran right-handers was as one-sided as their teams seasons in the opener of Chicagos 10-game homestand.The 37-year-old Lackey and 33-year-old Weaver were teammates a decade ago with the Angels. They had split their previous two meetings when Lackey pitched for Boston.This was the first time they batted against each other.Its a little strange when he gets in the box, for sure, because were good buddies, Lackey said.Calhoun struck first, sending Lackeys 1-0 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his first homer since June 25. Contreras tied it with a shot to left-center in the third.Weaver had the Cubs off balance early with his 83 mph fastball and 70 mph curve. But Chicago started to pouncce the second time through the order, with Anthony Rizzo doubling in a two-run fourth and again in a two-run fifth.ddddddddddddThe second hit came after Bryant sent Weavers slider onto Waveland Avenue.Its one of those lineups where you cant really breathe while youre out there. Theres no leeway, Weaver said. I grinded and tried to get some outs and some things didnt go my way towards the end.Weaver allowed eight hits in five innings.Its still a little weird because I root for him when hes not facing us, Lackey said. Hes a good friend. I really respect the way hes still competing and still getting after it with stuff thats a little less than he used to have. But hes still grinding, still trying to help his club win.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: C Geovany Soto (knee) was activated off the 15-day disabled list after the game and is expected to start Wednesday. C Carlos Perez was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. . New closer Cam Bedrosian was placed on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his right middle finger. RHP A.J. Achter was called up from Triple-A. . 1B C.J. Cron (hand) plans to take live batting practice in Arizona this week. . RHP Nick Tropeano will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday in Los Angeles.Cubs: Relief pitcher Hector Rondon (triceps) was unavailable. Its not an issue. I feel a little tired, Rondon said. . Jorge Soler started in left field for the first time since June 6 following a hamstring injury and three games as the DH last weekend. He went 2 for 4.CALL REVERSEDThe Cubs Dexter Fowler was ruled out after 3B Yunel Escobar had a foul pop knocked out of his glove by a fan in the fifth. Umpires initially ruled it no play before huddling and changing the call without a replay review.HEYWARDS CATCHCubs OF Jason Heyward made a headfirst, snow-cone grab of pinch-hitter Johnny Giavotellas fly to shallow right in the eighth.UP NEXTThe series concludes Wednesday night with Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07 ERA) returning from the bereavement list to face right-hander and former Cubs draft pick Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.23). ' ' '