It’s Newcastle United vs Chelsea on Saturday evening, and BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton predicts the Magpies will win once again.
Eddie Howe’s side have won their last four Premier League games, and are currently 10 unbeaten in all competitions. They hit double figures on Wednesday night, drawing in 90 minutes before beating Crystal Palace on penalties in the League Cup.
Now Newcastle have just one more game before the World Cup break, where five of Howe’s current squad will represent their countries.
The Toon boss will want his side to end the first half of the season on a high, and that is exactly what Sutton expects to happen when Chelsea arrive at St James’ Park.
Sutton predicts Newcastle will beat Chelsea
As part of his predictions for BBC Sport, Sutton has had his say on Newcastle against Chelsea. And while the Blues are one of his former clubs, he is anticipating the home side to pick up all three points with a 1-0 win.
“Chelsea were very disappointing against Arsenal last weekend,” he wrote.
“The Gunners looked like a side who had an identity – while the Blues didn’t appear to have a clear idea of what they would do when they came forward, or link up well at all.
“Newcastle will stay in the top four whatever happens in this game, and they must be delighted with their recent results that have put them there, as well as the way they have been playing.
“I think we will see more of the same here. I don’t expect this to be a high-scoring game, but I am backing the Magpies to make it five league wins in a row.”
A win would the perfect end to the first half of the season for Newcastle
It feels incredibly strange that the Premier League is about to go on hold for more than a month. There will only have been 15 games played, yet we won’t see our side in league action until after Christmas.
The World Cup actually comes at a bad time for Newcastle. We have been playing so well lately that it is a real shame for our momentum to be halted.
Howe will therefore be keen to go out on a high, and leave the fans wanting more. And Sutton thinks that will happen.
A win would be absolutely perfect. It would mean we are third after 15 games, and very much in the mix for Champions League qualification.
And we are playing Chelsea at a good time. They have lost three domestic games in a row, and Sutton believes Newcastle will make it four on Saturday.
It feels like it could be another perfect storm for the Magpies, much like the Arsenal game at the end of last season. St James’ Park was amazing that night, and there was simply no way we weren’t winning that game.
A similar performance against Chelsea would be the perfect way to cap off a remarkable start to the season, and leave us well placed to carry on this form after the World Cup.
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