English Premier
2012-10-07 - Newcastle United vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 7 October 2012 - Kick Off 4pm
This game is live on TV
Newcastle United
Alan Pardew has been given an 8 year contract at Newcastle United which shows the level of job that he is doing at the club. I am a bit of a cynic though and believe Mike Ashley is also locking down his manager so he can demand big compensation if one of the top sides come calling with the likes of Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Hodgson coming towards the end of their careers.
It has been a mixed start to the new season for Newcastle United as they have struggled to get off to the fast start of a year ago. They do have 9 points from their games so far so they can at least feel in touch with the top sides, while they are 2-1-0 at home so far this season, scoring 4 goals and conceding 2.
Newcastle have won 2 of their last 7 games at home in all competitions, although they did receive a big boost from a 3-0 home win over Bordeaux on Thursday night. The side have won 4 of their 5 home games in all competitions this season and they have now lost 1 of their last 15 games here going back to December 2011. Newcastle have won 8 of their last 10 at St James' Park in all competitions.
Tim Krul and Fabriccio Coloccini are both doubtful for the game, but Steven Taylor should be in the starting line up.
Manchester United
It was more of the same from Manchester United on Tuesday night as one piece of sloppy defending saw them fall behind yet again in a match before turning things around thanks to Robin Van Persie. This is the final game before the international break and one that United cannot afford to lose as I have projected both Chelsea and Manchester City to win their games on Saturday.
A 2-3 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur just opened up old wounds for United fans last weekend and that result also dropped them to 3rd in the Premier League. The side are now 4 points behind Chelsea in the League table and they bring in a 2-0-1 away record so far this season, scoring 5 goals in those games and conceding 4.
Despite the loss to Spurs, United have won 7 of their last 8 games in all competitions, but they have trailed in 4 of those wins while they have conceded the first goal in 6 of their 9 games in all competitions this season. United have won 3 in a row away from home in all competitions and 4 of their last 5 going back to last season.
The likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick will be back in the squad having not been asked to travel to Romania, while Antonio Valencia is doubtful. Chris Smalling and Ashley Young are pushing to return to the squad, but they may be given additional time to recover along with Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic who are long term injuries.
Head to Head
Newcastle United picked up 4 points from Manchester United last season including a 3-0 win over them at home in early January.
That means Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 2 home games against United, although previously they had lost 6 in 7 here going back to the 2001 season.
Manchester United have failed to score in their last 2 visits to St James' Park.
Prediction
If I was a Newcastle United fan, I would be quietly optimistic that the side could win this game and make a real statement of their intent for the rest of the season. The midfield battle should give them an edge with Tiote and Cabaye, while they have players like Ben Arfa, Cisse and Demba Ba that will cause plenty of problems for a United defence that has struggled against pace and looks very vulnerable at the moment.
In saying that, I also think Manchester United will be able to get some success against the Newcastle backline, even though the home side have 3 clean sheets in their last 4 games in all competitions.
It wouldn't be a huge surprise if both sides score in the game, but I also feel there will be a winner.
The fixture has regularly been one filled with goals- 8 of the last 10, including the one last season, has seen at least 3 goals scored in the game and the way Manchester United have been defending means they know they will have to score at least twice to win the game.
The away odds on quotes are disgusting and the 1.80 on over 2.5 goals makes more sense as I sense it will be covered no matter which of these teams takes the win.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Newcastle United 2-2 Manchester United
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 (Coral)
