NEWCASTLE UTD

Newcastle's season has picked up as the team have recovered from a horrendous injury list and Newcastle are no unbeaten in eight games in all competitions at St James's Park.

With home wins over Liverpool and Tottenham and a meritorious 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the last six league games it's fair to say that St James's Park in becoming a bit of a fortress again.

Newcastle Home Form (7-4-3 23:17)
10/02/07 W 2-1 v Liverpool
31/01/07 W 3-1 v Aston_Villa
20/01/07 D 2-2 v West_Ham
01/01/07 D 2-2 v Man_Utd
23/12/06 W 3-1 v Tottenham
16/12/06 W 2-1 v Watford

MIDDLESBROUGH

And while Middlesbrough are just one point and one place behind Newcastle in the standings - nearly all of the good work had been done at the Riverside Stadium - as Boro have one of the worst travelling records at 1-5-8.

Boro also were busy in mid-week, needing extra time and penalties to get past lower league West Brom in an FA Cup replay, and while that will be a pleasing result we may see the effort show in the legs of the Boro players in the second half.

Middlesbrough Away Form (1-5-8 11:20)
10/02/07 L 0-3 v Chelsea
30/01/07 D 0-0 v Portsmouth
13/01/07 W 3-1 v Charlton
30/12/06 L 1-2 v Blackburn
26/12/06 D 0-0 v Everton
18/12/06 L 1-2 v Fulham

HEAD TO HEAD

Although the Tyne-Tees clash is played up as a derby - this fixture is one that seems to conform to the usual home/away statistics with venue usually being important in picking who will win it.

Head to Head Form (3-2-1)
02/01/06 Newcastle 2-2 Middlesbrough
27/04/05 Newcastle 0-0 Middlesbrough
21/02/04 Newcastle 2-1 Middlesbrough
04/11/02 Newcastle 2-0 Middlesbrough
26/12/01 Newcastle 3-0 Middlesbrough
17/03/01 Newcastle 1-2 Middlesbrough

THE VERDICT

I see Newcastle as being fresher, and with home advantage I'll make them as about 50% likely to grab all three points here.

The Pick :

Newcastle 2-1 Middlesbrough

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Newcastle 49% - Draw 26% - Middlesbrough 25%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll take NEWCASTLE at a price of 2.00+ - and Paddy Power have a standout price.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Once again you can get good prices on the -1/2 goal handicap bet (which is exactly the same bet) with PinnacleSports offering 2.11 on Newcastle that option.