It’s become increasingly difficult to predict which Newcastle side are going to turn up each week in the Premier League following an erratic start to the campaign but regardless they are too short versus Sunderland this Sunday and I’ll be taking them on.
The Magpies started life back in the top flight with a spirited display in defeat at Old Trafford but thumped Aston Villa 6-0 next time out at St James’ Park in a quite remarkable match.
They’ve failed to win in front of their adoring fans since however, when beanpole striker Andy Carroll bagged a hat-trick, and perhaps Chris Houghton’s men are more suited to life on the road these days.
The level of expectation in the north-east is as big, and misplaced, as ever and with talk that Houghton, who performed so fantastically last term to gain promotion, is about to face the chop things all of a sudden don’t look so rosy.
Wins at Everton and West Ham on their travels, the latter last time out, has kept Newcastle’s head above water but all associated with the club must have been concerned by home defeats to Stoke City and Blackpool and it could have been worse but for a dramatic late Fabricio Coloccini equaliser versus Wigan in their latest match at St. James’.
Newcastle face local rivals Sunderland this weekend and the visitors are unbeaten in seven Premier League matches. Shoddy away form last season hampered the Black Cats’ European push but recent points at Wigan, Liverpool and Blackburn suggest they are getting their act together and Steve Bruce is slowly building a side that is very hard to beat.
Sunderland’s terrific home form, it’s just two defeats in 23 top flight matches, will always ensure they have enough in hand to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle but, with the quality of players now housed at the Stadium of Light, their sights should be set firmly on a top half finish and I think they’ll get it come May.
Matches of this nature are usually closely fought affairs and this fixture ended in a stalemate two seasons ago when the pair last met in the top flight. Sunderland have improved since however, the acquisition of Darren Bent looking better with each passing week, and I’m more than confident they’ll avoid defeat.
Quite how Newcastle trade at just 2.26 this weekend to secure three points I’m not too sure and, given that Sunderland are usually pretty resolute defensively, I wouldn’t be totally surprised were they to edge it.
I couldn’t put anybody off a small play on the visitors to triumph by the only goal but a strong lay of the hosts is the way to go.
3pts Lay Newcastle (vs. Sunderland) @ 2.26 (Betfair)