I think everybody who loves home side is trying to find the answer on question: How did it happen?! Big club, excellent players (expensive, too), unlimited support by fans… Logic position would be a place that lead to European competition. But, current situation is different, 18th position on the table, three points under the line, last win was 07.02.2009.(WBA on the road)! Club’s owner announced that he will sell the club if relegate. Even club’s legend Alan Shearer, who btw. grab just two points from five games, (also grab a million for a two months job) can’t help. Anyway, everybody talks about very good atmosphere in a dressing room. Hard to imagine. As their current position, however. Good news came from Hull, where hosts lost their game against Stoke, yesterday. It means, with three points the Magpies would skip them. At the last round Newcastle was crashed at Anfield. Big mistakes by defense line were punished with three goals. Things went even worse when Joey Barton got a red card (three games suspension). Rumors say he finished not just a season, but the career at St James. Another good news is injury list, that is decreasing. Just Alan Smith won’t be available, while Jose Enrique is struggling to shake off a hamstring injury. The hosts will be fully motivated, they’re better side than visitors and only thing left is to show it on the pitch.
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If I feel no sorry for home side, then I definitely don’t know what to say about visitors. In the previous season, they bravely avoided relegation. Then instead buying some quality players, they even sold the bests. Wrong strategy by club’s management had a culmination when Gareth Southgate was appointed for a manager. I won’t use hard words, but he simply is not capable to lead one Premier League team. So, different reasons for being under the line, then Newcastle. Bad team, bad manager, they’re fully deserved the relegation. Here is one Gareth’s thought (for BBC): "We are probably closer to survival than we were eight weeks ago because the tally needed to stay up seems to reduce every week." The funny thing is if they somehow win tonight, then they would be one step from avoiding relegation, sending Newcastle in Championship. But, their performances on the road don’t support that scenario. Just two wins (and two draws) from 17 games, with just 9 scored goals and 32 conceded, six competitive defeats in a row and just a single point from last 11 away games! Defender Andrew Taylor returns to the squad, while other two defenders Emanuel Pogatetz (knee) and Chris Riggott (ankle) are out.
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For Newcastle, moving into Championship would be a shame. For Boro, avoiding relegation would be a great achieve. Both sides have the last opportunity. I expect open game from the start where Boro’s defense (more likely than Newcastle’s attack) will decide the game. Over is also very good choice, but I go for a home side. Pinnacle offers 2.06. Home win.
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My second pick for today will be the play-off game in Championship. But, more about that later. Stay tuned.
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