Football – England – Premier League
Saturday 3rd May 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Alan Pardew and his Newcastle side will be looking to break the recent shackles when they host bottom of the Premiership Cardiff City at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon to lift the gloom that has descended over the Geordie faithful.
Fog over the Tyne seems an apt phrase at the moment where Newcastle United are concerned as they’ve lost seven of their last eight but The Magpies surprisingly still possess the safety of a mid-table position despite their alarming loss of form. A 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace prevented eight straight defeats back in March, but with the Newcastle fans increasingly calling for Pardew’s head, the manager will demand all three points here this afternoon.
Newcastle’s overall home record stands at 7-3-8 20/28 and they’ve won just twice out of their last nine at St James’ Park which has been largely due to the fact that quite simply the goals have dried up for the hosts; just three goals in these last nine underlines their attacking problems of late. That said, they do have a reasonable home record against lower half opposition of 5-1-3 10/10, and given that this is the last home match of the season for Newcastle, I expect them to pull their socks up and deliver for their fans today.
Visitors Cardiff City have just two games left of the Premiership season to avoid the drop – away at Newcastle United this afternoon and at home to Chelsea next weekend. I daresay they’ll fancy their chances of getting more out Newcastle at St James’ Park than against the might of Chelsea, but they’ll need to be careful not to leave themselves open to counter-attacks against Newcastle in their bid to score goals.
Cardiff make the trip to the north-east on the back of just one win in their last seven matches and that was a surprise 1-0 win away at Southampton, but the warning signs are there for all to see for The Bluebirds as they’ve been conceding way too many goals in recent matches – Liverpool 3-6, Crystal Palace 0-3 and last weekend’s 0-4 mauling at the hands of Sunderland who aren’t exactly prolific themselves in front of goal, means that Cardiff will need to tighten up at the back if they’re to get anything this Saturday.
Cardiff’s away record stands at a woeful 2-4-12 12/36 and along with keeping just three clean sheets on their travels this season, they have a poor record of 1-1-7 6/18 away at top half opposition (Newcastle qualify for top half – just!)
It’s Newcastle’s last home match of the season and despite the recent grumblings from the terraces concerning Alan Pardew, I expect there to be something of a party atmosphere. Can Cardiff spoil The Magpies party I wonder? In short, no – The Bluebirds have been conceding too many goals at the back, and don’t forget manager Solskjaer has very little experience in fighting relegation battles – and surviving. Newcastle to shade this perhaps 1-0 for my money.
Pick: Newcastle United straight win @ 2.10 Bet Victor
