CAN Newcastle stay up? Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) looks at their crunch match against West Ham on Sunday.
Newcastle v West Ham | Sunday 15:00 | Sky Sports 1
It’s been a hellish three months for Newcastle and their fans, but on Sunday this sorry slapstick sitcom-esque episode comes to a close as they find out their 2014/15 fate.
They could lose and still stay up as it’s Hull who hold the key. If Steve Bruce’s side beat Manchester United (here’s my view on that game) then Newcastle will have to beat West Ham to stay in the division due to their poorer goal difference.
Imagine suggesting this predicament back on the opening day of March? Newcastle had just beaten Aston Villa 1-0, found themselves in 11th place with a 13 point cushion over the relegation zone.
Since then they’ve won just one point from a possible 30 and have a sweaty day on Sunday coming up. So do an army of punters who backed them to go down at gargantuan prices. Me? Yup!
In many ways they couldn’t have asked for an easier game to end the season though. West Ham away strikes fear into the heart of no one.
Since Sam Allardyce scoffed his turkey down on Christmas Day, his side have won just three of their next 20 Premier League games. These wins came against Burnley, Hull and Sunderland and all of them were at Upton Park.
Alan Irvine was on the opposing bench the last time West Ham won away from home. By the time Sunday comes around that will have been 173 days ago. Wow!
The case for West Ham in this game centres on Newcastle’s execrable form and the fact manager Sam Allardyce used to manage Newcastle and is almost certainly in charge of West Ham for the last time. Do you think him and his players really care about this game though? I’m not sure.
The bookmakers have Newcastle at odds on and that needs to be avoided. Even if they win you aren’t getting a value bet backing that in my opinion.
At the Win-Draw-Win odds it’s the draw that appeals the most at 3/1 with Bet365. Are any of these sides actually capable of winning?! I’m also all over Under 2.5 Goals at 13/10 with BetVictor and will chuck a fiver on No Goalscorer at a stunningly gorgeous 16/1 with Coral.
Best Bets
Newcastle v West Ham – Draw (3/1 Bet365)
Newcastle v West Ham – Under 2.5 Goals (13/10 BetVictor)
Newcastle v West Ham – No Goalscorer (16/1 Coral)
5/1 Hull To Be Relegated
Think Hull are doomed like Chris? Not got an account with Coral?
Hey, why not join Coral this weekend and back them at 5/1 to go down?
TOPICS English Football Tips Football Premier League Tips
