Newcastle United
West Bromwich Albion FC
West Bromwich Albion FC
Newcastle eyeing West Brom fixture as opportunity for back to back victories
Newcastle to win 1-0
Newcastle are a side where you’re not sure what you’ll get from them on a week to week basis.
They impressed in beating Crystal Palace in their last match, adding three vital points to their tally and keeping their heads well above the relegation scrap below them.
Unable to play last weekend due to an outbreak of Covid-19 among their squad, Newcastle will return this week after an extra week’s rest attempting to win back to back league fixtures for the first time this season.
West Brom have been a side unable to play well enough for a full 90 minutes this season so far.
They’ve put in good spells, such as the first half against Chelsea, and picked up their first win against Sheffield United the weekend before last. But on the whole, they’ll need a dramatic improvement to climb out of the bottom three.
This one is close to call.
Form Guide (all comps): DWLLW
Reasons to be cheerful:
When on form can be a real test for teams
An extra week of rest could help them
Reasons to be fearful:
West Brom are desperate for points so will press hard
Unclear who will be fit due to Coronavirus
Newcastle fans are set to go through a familiar season from their point of view.
Five points collected from their previous seven matches is unlikely to represent form that carries them into the top half of the table, though should see them comfortably ahead of the relegation zone.
Inconsistency is a word which has been levelled against almost all teams this season, and Newcastle are no exception. Their away victory over Crystal Palace proved there are some very decent players within their squad.
Callum Wilson and Joelinton are striking up a decent partnership in front of goal, with ten goals and four assists between them. They’ll fancy their chances of adding to that against West Brom’s leaky defence.
Their home form isn’t the best, with just two wins from five, but they can help improve that here.
Star Man – Callum Wilson
A striker that, if you feed him chances, he will take them. A great addition by The Magpies this season.
Form Guide (all comps): LLLWL
Reasons to be cheerful
Sit only a point off safety
Newcastle are an inconsistent side themselves
Reasons to be fearful
Only collected one point away from home
Highest number of goals conceded in the league
West Brom’s confidence will have taken a hammering after being thrashed 5-1 at home to Crystal Palace last weekend, with any hope of a revival after a win the previous week disappearing just a quick as it arrived.
The beating means that they have now conceded the highest number of goals across the league, with only two teams scoring fewer than the eight which they have managed.
A ray of hope is that other than Sheffield United, who look dead with just a point from 10 matches, Burnley and Fulham all sit within a point of the Baggies, with Brighton four points ahead. A couple of results in their favour, and West Brom could catch those ahead of them.
They will have a chance to do so here, against a Newcastle side who could look dangerous one minute and unsure of themselves the next.
West Brom will have to do without forward Costa Pereira, who was sent off in last week’s defeat.
Star Man – Conor Gallagher
Became the youngest Baggies player to score in consecutive matches since 2014
Result will depend on how Newcastle approach the match
West Brom must draw upon previous good performances
Newcastle are slight favourites
Most teams going up against West Brom at the moment will start as favourites.
Newcastle can run out quite comfortable winners with the quality of players within their squad, especially as West Brom are conceding goals at such a high rate.
Despite this, The Magpies have seemed to be at the start of a good run before, only to fall to defeat next time out. If West Brom can call on some of the decent performances up until now, they could leave with something, but it’s a small chance at best.
Newcastle to win 1-0
