Newcastle United v Chelsea Betting Tip & Odds: Can see this one ending in a draw. Newcastle are just as likely to pinch a goal, as Chelsea are to get in front and then concede. What makes this game a little different is the atmosphere which is going to be prevalent on Saturday. We should see a fired up Newcastle but if Chelsea get on the score sheet early it could send the Magpies into distraction. Newcastle’s defence has proven its worth this season, and while Chelsea are the higher scoring of the two, it could all play out to some parity. Therefore, as three of the last four matches between these have been draws, going to look at a decent shout of Newcastle 0 Asian Handicap (equivalent of a Draw No Bet) for 8/5 at Bet365
Newcastle United to win: 11/4 at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Chelsea to win: Evens at Bet365
EPL Match Preview: Well, it will no doubt be an emotional day at the Sports Direct Arena as Newcastle host Chelsea. This is the first game for Newcastle after the sudden death of ex player Gary Speed. Magpies boss Alan Pardew naturally wants a tribute three points at home on Saturday in honour of Speed, who played over 300 matches for the Magpies. So emotions will be running high and the atmosphere will be charged. Newcastle wrap up a run of three tough matches against Chelsea on Saturday, after having played Manchester City and Manchester in consecutive matches. Chelsea are still struggling badly for form, have fallen behind in the Barclays Premier League title race and their Champions League status hangs in the balance. A emotionally charged trip to Newcastle is probably one of the last things that under pressure boss Andre Villas Boas will want right now. Or will it be the perfect tonic for him to get away from the spotlight of the Stamford Bridge struggles and steal away with three points in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable?
Newcastle United Form:
The Magpies are one point and one place ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League. Despite only picking up one point in their last two matches, Alan Pardew’s men are holding on to fourth place ahead of the London side. Newcastle have lost just once this season, and that was on a trip up to Manchester City two weekends ago. That ended their eleven match unbeaten run to the start of the season, and then it was off to Old Trafford to face United. After a dodgy penalty decision going their way, Newcastle were able to come away with a point, and while it never appeared against City, some of that heroic defending which has been prevalent all season, was back in force at Old Trafford. So, to their credit, the Magpies are still unbeaten at home in the league this season, rattling off four wins and two draws. They have won their last two matches there, beating Wigan and then Everton before meeting the two Manchester Clubs. The goal scoring hasn’t been particularly high for Newcastle this season, and that is why their defence has been key. The Magpies are averaging just 1.6 goals per match at home, but they are averaging only 0.8 goals against at home. So their defence has definitely propped up their attach. Two of their six home matches so far has yielded a clean sheet for Pardew’s men. Newcastle have spread their scoring out well this season, with no particular time period of matches behind their strongest point, but 58% of their goals have come in the second half. The Magpies have only scored first in 54% of their matches, which isn’t too high for a club near the summit of the Premier League. Demba Ba, who netted the equalising penalty kick at Old Trafford last weekend, leads the way with the scoring with 9 goals for Newcastle. They clearly need his input as he has produced almost half of all their league goals. While Newcastle clearly haven’t been as proficient in front of goal as the likes of Chelsea and Man City, they have scored at least one goal in each of their last nine matches, so they are good value to get on the score sheet against Chelsea’s leaky defence. Can their sturdy defence keep the Blues at bay and take a massive three points to get themselves back on track after a couple of very difficult matches?
Chelsea Form:
What a difficult match for Chelsea. Will they really want to win this one, or do so without guilt? While their form is bad, an away win at Newcastle on the day of Gary Speed tribute’s won’t make them the most liked team in the country. Still, there is business to be done and Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas will desperately be seeking three points. The Blues have lost three of their last five Premier League matches, a shocking turn of form after a pretty solid start to the season. But that disruptive away defeat at QPR when they went down to nine men seems to really have rattled them. Subsequent defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool in the league, have come alongside a draw against Belgian underdogs Genk and then defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Another defeat at home against Liverpool in the Carling Cup in the week didn’t help matters for Villas Boas either. The Blues are leaking goals all over the place and they don’t look likely to stop. Their performances against Liverpool have really been lack lustre and this is a problem for Villas Boas. Only young Daniel Sturridge out of the strikers are working. Fernando Torres looks as lost as ever, and Didier Drogba simply isn’t the force that he was. Chelsea need something to click and confidence would be a big help, as they are looking like a very nervous side. Out of their six away matches this season, only three have yielded wins for Chelsea, with one draw and two defeats on the road. They haven’t drawn in five matches on the road now. While they have defensive frailties, Chelsea have conceded six on the road (which is the second best away defensive record in the league) but have only scored nine themselves. Not good enough by any stretch of the imagination, and part of the reason they are ten points adrift of leaders Man City. So Chelsea are averaging 1.5 goals per match away from home, and they are conceding an average of 1 goal per match on the road. Not great, but they have managed two clean sheets away from home, while they have managed just one at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are stronger in the first half in scoring goals, but they just can’t put games to bed because they are not clinical and ruthless enough. Chelsea have opened the scoring in 61% of their matches so far. Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge are top scorers for the club, with six each and John Terry has weighed in well with four of his own. After losing against Liverpool in the league, Chelsea did respond last weekend with a 3-0 home win, an easy win at that, over Wolves. Very unpredictable at the moment. Can Villas Boas, who insists that there isn’t a crisis, sort out his side?
Head to Head: Out of 72 matches between these two at Newcastle, the Magpies have won 35 and lost just 19, so a pretty good home record. However, they haven’t beaten Chelsea in the last eight attempts in the league. The last time Newcastle picked up a league win was in the 2005/06 season at home, where they sneaked a 1-0 win. Last season this fixture produced a 1-1 draw, one of three draws in the last four meetings between the two sides.
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