English Premier
2011-12-03 - Newcastle United vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 3 December 2011 - Kick Off 12:45pm
This game is live on TV
Newcastle United
Newcastle United have been the surprise package of the season so far, and there are no real signs that that is coming to an end as the TV cameras pitch up to the stadium formerly known as St James' Park. They have already faced a couple of tough tests of their credentials over the last two weeks, and this is yet another.
The Magpies are perched in 4th in the Premier League with 26 points picked up so far this season. It still seems unlikely to me that they will be challenging for a top 4 spot, but then I didn't think they would only have 1 loss at this stage. Newcastle are 4-2-0 at home, scoring 10 goals and conceding 5 and it has been based on a strong defence which has the 3rd best record in the League.
Newcastle have picked up 1 point from their last 2 games, but those have come at Manchester City and Manchester United. The team have won 4 of their last 5 at home, although they have only gained 1 clean sheet in those games.
Jonas Gutierrez is suspended until next week, while Cheik Tiote is unlikely to return until next week at the earliest.
Chelsea
Andre Villa-Boas is beginning to feel the pressure at Stamford Bridge as his team lurches from one disaster to another. The latest of those came in a comfortable home loss to Liverpool in the Carling Cup, while Champions League qualification is under threat and the Premier League already looks a step too far.
With 4 defeats in the League already this season, Chelsea are 5th in the Premier League table, 10 points behind Manchester City. It already looks like a top 4 berth is as good as it will get for the Blues this season as the press speculation about the manager's future begins to intensify. Chelsea are 3-1-2 away from home this season, with 9 goals scored and 6 conceded.
Chelsea have lost 3 of their last 4 games in all competitions and have actually only won 2 of their last 9 games. They have won just 1 of their last 5 games away from home and goals are a problem for the side on their travels. The Blues have scored just 4 goals in their last 5 away games.
There are no new injury worries for the team on their long trip north.
Head to Head
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 5 games at St James' Park, winning 3 of those games and keeping 4 clean sheets.
The last 9 games between the teams here have ended with 2 goals or less.
Prediction
This looks like being another tight encounter for the live television audiences to enjoy.
Newcastle have been very good defensively for much of the season, but they did ride their luck a little in the game at Old Trafford last week. On another day, the Magpies could have lost by a landslide, and they were even fortunate to escape with a draw after a controversial penalty was awarded to them.
Chelsea have been defensively poor for much of the season as the team gets used to playing in a more expansive manner, but I think they will settle for a much more cautious shape in this game. A lack of away goals has also been an issue for the side as they continue to struggle in getting the best out of Fernando Torres up front.
Recent history has also shown these games have finished with less than 3 goals scored and I will back the 'Under 2.5 Goals' at just under odds against.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Newcastle United 1-1 Chelsea
