English Premier
2012-09-23 - Newcastle United vs Norwich City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 23 September 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Newcastle United
Newcastle United have to balance playing Premier League football with their commitments to the Europa League, but they haven't exactly been helped out by the authorities. The team had to play Chelsea two days after a game in Greece earlier this season and this week were given a Monday night game at Everton ahead of their game in Portugal. Least the Premier League have been 'kind enough' to give them until Sunday afternoon after that trip to Portugal(!)
Some fans may have been expecting a top four finish after the surprise success last season, but it was always going to be a much more difficult campaign now other teams are a little more aware who they are facing. Newcastle have earned 5 points from their opening League games and they have a 1-1-0 record at St James' Park, scoring 3 goals and conceding 2.
They have won just 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions following a 2-1 success against Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend of the season, although they have only been beaten once so far. Newcastle have only lost 1 of their last 14 home games in all competitions and they have won 6 of the last 8 despite drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa last time out.
Alan Pardew has a number of injuries at the back with Tim Krul, Danny Simpson and Fabricio Coloccini all expected to miss this game so the back four will be the same as the one that started the last two games. Steve Harper will be restored in goal, while the likes of Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse could all return having not even travelled to Portugal.
Norwich City
Chris Hughton is very unlucky not to have recorded a League victory as Norwich City manager as his side were wasteful in front of goal during their latest Premier League game that ended 0-0 against West Ham United. They are playing well, but these runs can begin to play on a teams mind if they are not rewarded with a win.
Norwich dropped to 16th in the League table and could potentially be even lower come kick off as a full schedule will be played on Saturday. They have picked up 3 points, all from draws, since an opening day defeat and they have a 0-1-1 away record, scoring 1 goal and conceding 6.
That does look worse than it is as Norwich were thumped 5-0 at Fulham on the opening day, but they have since recovered to go on a 4 game unbeaten run although their only win came against Scunthorpe United in the Capital One Cup. Norwich have won just 1 of their last 8 away games in the Premier League, losing 5 of those.
Steven Whittaker has been close to returning to the squad for a couple of weeks now, but this could be the time for the former Rangers player. Anthony Pilkington is a doubt, but Jacob Butterfield and Elliot Bennett may return to the squad.
Head to Head
Both teams won their home games against the other in the League last season with Newcastle United winning 1-0 here after earlier losing 4-2 at Norwich City.
Newcastle have won 4 of their last 5 home games against Norwich, although this run is going back to the 1993/94 season.
Prediction
Alan Pardew didn't want to risk a number of his important first team players so it was no surprise that the front 6 that started against Everton, as well as Demba Ba, were left in the North East of England during the week with this game in mind.
Newcastle performed much better in the second half last week at Everton, but they were still fortunate to earn a draw and they will have to make do without their manager for a second game as Pardew serves a touchline ban.
Despite the bad first half performance, I think Newcastle showed plenty of character in coming back against Everton and do feel they will be too strong for Norwich City in this one.
Norwich have been playing well and they did give Tottenham Hotspur a tough game at White Hart Lane in a 1-1 draw earlier in the campaign, but they just seem to be struggling to find the goals to win games and 2 goals from 4 League games isn't going to earn too many wins.
It's not like they haven't been creating chances, but even that might be difficult against a Newcastle defence that will have been buoyed by their clean sheet in Portugal on Thursday night.
I also feel the home side have one too many match winners for Norwich to deal with and I will back them at what looks a generous 1.87 offered by Pinnacle on the Asian Handicap.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Newcastle United 2-0 Norwich City
