English Premier
2012-03-25 - West Brom vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 25 March 2012 - Kick Off 4pm
This game is live on TV
West Brom
Roy Hodgson may not be doing his chances of being in contention for the England job any harm with the way life has been going at West Brom, although I am sure he would like to underline his credentials by leading the Baggies to a top half finish. That is more than a possibility and he may even get his team into that position by picking up three points here.
West Brom are 14th in the Premier League, but a win would actually see them move up to 10th in the table and they would then only be 3 points behind Hodgson's former club Liverpool in 7th. The team will have to improve their form at the Hawthornes if they are to achieve their aims, currently compiling a 4-2-8 record here, scoring 14 goals and conceding 16.
The team had been in really good form recently when they won 3 consecutive Premier League games in a row, including a 1-5 win at local rivals Wolves, and a 1-0 win over Chelsea here. West Brom have since lost at Manchester United and were fortunate to earn anything from their trip to Wigan last week and will be looking for a much better performance this week. They have won their last 2 home games in the League after losing 5 of their previous 6 at home.
Jonas Olsson has completed his suspension following a red card at Old Trafford, while Peter Odemwingie will need to pass a late fitness test if he is to play a part in the live game.
Newcastle United
One of the outside contenders for the vacant England job is Alan Pardew after the wonderful work he has done at Newcastle United over the last 18 months. He is not settling with the great season they have had so far as he has challenged his team to make sure they can get into Europe through their League place, something that is very much within their grasp if they can finish the season off in the correct manner.
Newcastle are 6th in the Premier League table, but they can move to within 5 points of Tottenham Hotspur in the final Champions League spot and level on points with Chelsea if they can pick up the three points from this game. They have a 5-3-6 away record this season, scoring 19 goals and conceding 26, which is the second worst away defensive record in the top half of the table.
The Magpies earned a 1-0 win over Norwich City in front of the TV cameras last week- that result was their first win in 5 Premier League games. Newcastle will be hoping to bounce back from the heartache of their last away game when they were beaten by Arsenal thanks to a 93rd minute Thomas Vermaelan goal. The team have actually lost 5 of their last 6 away games in all competitions.
Cheick Tiote is a big doubt for Alan Pardew and will need to pass a late fitness test to take his place in the team. Shane Ferguson could return to the bench.
Head to Head
West Brom beat Newcastle United 2-3 at St James' Park earlier this season to continue their good run against the Magpies.
That result means the Baggies are unbeaten in their last 6 games against Newcastle in all competitions, while they have scored at least 3 goals in each of the last 4 games.
West Brom have won their last 2 home games against Newcastle, including a 3-1 result last season.
Prediction
While I think West Brom still have some goals they want to reach at the end of this season, I do think they will be able to play with a little bit of freedom in their last 9 games this season with their safety all but secured for another season.
That freedom should mean that they come out and try and play their attacking football at home and look to pressure Newcastle who have been struggling away from home in recent games.
Newcastle have bigger fish to fry and make be a little bit more nervous as they can really close the gap on the top 4 and perhaps give themselves one last chance to challenge for a Champions League spot.
However, they have not been at their best defensively as the season has kept going, especially not away from home where they have conceded 5 goals in 2 of their last 4 away Premier League games, and I think that means we are likely to see an entertaining game.
These two teams do usually provide fireworks in their games against one another, with 9 of their last 10 games against one another ending with at least 3 goals scored. The absence of Peter Odemwingie would be a worry, but I think we will see chances created and the Overs looks a touch high to me.
The Pick :
West Brom 3-2 Newcastle United
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Over 2.75 Goals @ 2.20 (188Bet)
