Premier League: Beat Spurs and the Geordies Can Dream

Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

The top flight clash of the weekend, Premier League: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur, could well be a shootout for that priceless fourth place, which takes you into the 2023/24 Champions League.

And the Magpies are in the right place at the moment, in fourth place, three points behind Manchester United in third and three ahead of Spurs who have played a game more. Of course, both could qualify for the Champions League should the Red Devils collapse and, equally, both could miss out if sixth placed Aston Villa continue their remarkable winning run.

Both teams come into this six pointer on the back of a defeat; the Magpies were shot down 3-0 by Aston Villa while Spurs lost 3-2 at home to battling Bournemouth. The Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur betting odds reckon the hosts will put it right on Sunday and, if they do then they will be in great shape to join Europe’s elite next season. 

Talking Points

Bruno can take Newcastle to the Promised Land

Eddie Howe has done such a good job as Newcastle boss that the club is planning investment in its training facilities in preparation for Champions League football; and that outcome is probably what is needed to keep the jewel in the Magpies nest at the club. Bruno Guimaraes has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season and, while Howe has assembled a strong group of players, the 25 year old Brazilian has real star quality.

Bruno has been happy in the North East and is loved by the fans, and even the £40m it took to bring him from Olympique Lyonnaise in January 2022 is now looking like money very well spent. As a central midfielder he is more creator than enforcer and he has scored some crucial goals this season, as well as opening up opportunities for the likes of Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron.

Alongside the re-invented Joelinton, Bruno dictates the pace of play and he is the heartbeat of the team, so Howe is desperate to keep hold of his star man amidst interest from a number of top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain. And if the Geordies do stay in the top four, then they can offer the Brazilian as much as the Parisiens can.

Talks are ongoing to extend Bruno’s contract at St James’ Park but for now he is concentrating on finishing the job in hand.         

Newcastle were on a winning run of five, including a victory over Manchester United, but a trip to Villa Park brought that to an abrupt end as Unai Emery masterminded a 3-0 win for the upwardly mobile Villains. It was only the second time Newcastle had conceded three goals this season, in all competitions, and I don’t expect that to happen again any time soon.   

Spurs away day blues

Cristian Stellini took over at the helm of Tottenham following the acrimonious departure of Antonio Conte, and he has done little to steady the ship. Since beating free-falling Nottingham Forest early in March, Spurs have drawn with strugglers Everton and Southampton and lost to Bournemouth. The only win they earned was courtesy of the officials and VAR when they beat Brighton and Hove Albion. The Seagulls had two goals disallowed for dubious handballs and had two stonewall penalties denied as VAR made a clutch of ‘clear and obvious errors’ of its own.

The Whites have been poor on the road for some time; they have won just two of their last eight away games, and none of the last four despite facing relegation threatened sides. Of course, it could be worse for Tottenham when you look at the chaos at London rivals Chelsea, who aren’t even in the top half of the table. But that will be cold comfort for the Spurs fans who, once again, will be worried that their own star man, Harry Kane, might become unsettled. He scored the winner against Brighton, two weeks ago and, with 23 goals this season he’s in fine form.       

History

These are two proud old clubs of the English top flight and the head to head Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur results tell a story of a highly competitive rivalry, the Magpies winning 24 of the meetings, in the Premier League era, with Tottenham winning 26, including a 3-2 win at St James’ Park last season. Newcastle won 2-1 in the return match this term thanks to goals from Wilson and Almiron while Kane scored for Spurs.    

The hosts have the better recent form with five wins from the last six, while Spurs have won two, drawn three and lost one.

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.83 the Geordies are strong favourites to win this game, with Tottenham priced at 3.54 and the Draw at 3.35. The hosts have better form but you can never write off Spurs with Kane in their side.

I can see this being decided by the odd goal in three, probably in favour of Newcastle at odds of 6.76, while a 1-2 away win is priced at 13.48.

 

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