Premier League: Fast Finish is on for the Magpies

Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

We have finally reached the penultimate weekend in another pulsating Premier League season, and it’s all to play for from the top to the bottom of the table. 

The title race is still raging with Manchester City and Arsenal fighting to the death, and, at the bottom, Burnley and Luton have not quite given up on their dreams of a great escape.

And then there’s Europe.

Aston Villa are within touching distance of their well-deserved Champions League spot, and Tottenham look reasonably solid in fifth. But only six points separate the Whites from Manchester United in eighth, and the Red Devils, along with Chelsea and Newcastle United, are battling for sixth, seventh, and Europa League places.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are currently in sixth place and are the form team, though Chelsea, two points behind, are breathing down their necks. Meanwhile, Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton are hoping to pick up points in their last two games to avoid their campaign fizzling out.

Both teams come into the game on the back of an impressive victory, with Newcastle sweeping Burnley aside with a 4-1 win at Turf Moor while Brighton beat high-flying Aston Villa 1-0.

The Magpies are at SBOTOP odds of 1.45 to win this game, and with more at stake, I think they will give the Seagulls a very uncomfortable afternoon. 

Talking Points

Wilson is back in attack with Isak  

Newcastle were clinical in their win over Burnley last week as the returned Callum Wilson opened the scoring with a typical poachers goal, firing in the rebound after Alexander Isak’s shot had been parried. The Magpies went into the break 3-0 up after Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes both finished clinically, and then Isak got in the act early in the second half.

First, the Swedish striker had a penalty saved, but he made amends moments later when he smashed in a 55^th-minute fourth to put the game to bed. Isak’s goal made it 20 for the campaign, five fewer than Golden Boot leader Erling Haaland, and with the firepower of Wilson back, who now has nine for the campaign, the Geordies have a pretty terrifying attack.

Service from Bruno and Anthony Gordon gives the forwards plenty of action, and with the news that right wingback Kieran Trippier could be back on Saturday, Brighton’s defence will have their work cut out.

The Geordies are in the newly evolved Big Eight in the Premier League, and had they not suffered such a huge injury list, they may well have been pushing for a top-four place again, but sixth would be a decent outcome.

Top Ten back on for Seagulls

After a disappointing run of Premier League 2024 results, Brighton proved they had not switched off for the summer when they met Aston Villa last weekend and upset the odds by beating Unai Emery’s Champions League hopefuls. Joao Pedro netted a late winner, but the Seagulls were unlucky not to be ahead earlier, when VAR managed to measure that Pascal Gross’s strike was an inch or so offside.

But the hosts held on for a narrow win, which was a big relief to the Amex Stadium crowd, who have seen their side struggle recently, last winning a game on March 10^th, a 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest.

De Zerbi says he’s not in charge of a top team, but they are certainly no mugs and, like Newcastle, have suffered from injuries this term. But they have not reached the heights of last season, when they finished sixth, and a top-ten finish will make everyone feel a little better.

The Seagulls are currently 11^th, a point behind Bournemouth and tow behind West Ham United. 

History

With seven wins to five, Brighton have the edge over Newcastle in the head-to-head meetings, and they won this fixture, 3-1, on home ground back in September as teenager Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick. 

With four wins from the last six, the Magpies form is much better than that of the Seagulls, who have just picked up their first victory in their last six games.

So, let’s take a look at the Premier League 2024 betting odds for this clash and make a pick.

Betting Tip

Brighton are at SBOTOP odds of 4.83 to win this game, with the draw at 4.38 and the Double Chance; Brighton or Draw priced at 2.46. 

But having watched the Geordies dismantle my team, Burnley, last week, I think they will have far too much for a recently out-of-sorts Brighton…particularly at a packed St James Park.

 

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