Newcastle United’s season is unravelling quickly. Last weekend’s thumping away to Southampton was their third in four games. It also meant they have managed just one goal in their last four. European football looked out their reach and as they were in no danger of relegation, there was always a chance that their season could be anticlimactic. What Newcastle supporters won’t accept, however, is a lack of fight and that looked to be the case at times last Saturday. The visit of Manchester United is often one that the St James’ Park crown look forward to all season and that is why this fixture could be a positive at this point. The players will have to feed off the energy from the crowd as they look to turn in a performance following two heavy defeats.
Things seem a lot more positive for Manchester United and their manager David Moyes after a morale boosting come from behind victory at home to Aston Villa was followed up with a resolute performance against Bayern Munich which earned them a draw in the first leg of their Quarter Final. It alleviates some of the pressure which was building on Moyes after resounding home defeats against arch rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the month of March. Before their focus is on the return leg on Wednesday in Munich, attention turns to league business and an opportunity to build more momentum going into that match. I can’t envisage there being too many United players rested such has been the nature of their season but with the injuries they have suffered lately, particularly at the back, it could mean a reshuffle of sorts.
One crumb of comfort for Newcastle is that their recent poor run has coincided with Alan Pardew’s ban from the stadium – initially – and now the touchline. He’s a manager who creates controversy and lets emotion get the better of him but there’s no doubt he has a relationship with his players that gets them performing. He’s no use to anybody in the stand though, and with another three games to serve, it could get worse for the Geordies before it gets better.
Man United’s away form in the Premier League is the best in the division as they have picked up 30 points from their 16 away games thus far this season. It’s definitely an area of optimism for the club moving forward and something they can look to build upon over the close season. They have actually won their last three away games in the Premier League with an aggregate score of 7-0. Another performance and result to add to that would be the perfect tonic ahead of a perilous trip to Germany.
There doesn’t appear to be much to play for in this game other than the three Premier League points on offer but you sense that it’s more important for the away side as they look to prolong the good feeling that was built up in their last couple of home games. Their away form is decent anyway so they should have enough to see of a Newcastle side who are probably desperate for the summer.
Manchester United EVENS @ Unibet
