For the first time in three months, the usual suspects are back again with their Premier League predictions ahead of Sheffield United’s trip to Tyneside tomorrow.
Sky Sports’ Charlie Nicholas has backed Bruce to ‘prove a point’ and pull off a 2-1 win, Mark Lawrenson tells the BBC it’ll be a low scoring affair that’ll end 1-1, while former Mag Michael Owen also believes it’ll end all square – meaning they’re ALL expecting us to come away with a result.
Here’s what they’ve all had to say, starting with Nicholas – who believes Saint-Maximin and Almiron will be the ones to watch:
Charlie Nicholas (Sky Sports)
‘Sheffield United should have got the three points. Whatever happened with the technology, it was a shambles. Thank goodness it happened though, as it was the only talking point from the game. I went for Villa to win but I expected Sheffield United to graft, and they did just that. Oli McBurnie grafted and Billy Sharp worked his socks off, as did the whole of Chris Wilder’s side. Jack O’Connell was missing at the back and John Fleck was absent – you could tell that it was not quite the same.
‘Steve Bruce will be trying to prove a point, and Newcastle will be sold, but whoever buys the club, Bruce needs a chance and he will be wanting to show that he can match it. Newcastle are sitting in 13th, and they should be all but over the line, but they can be awkward.
‘Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin are the ones to look out for. They are talented players, but not the greatest in front of goal. Joelinton is anything but confident at the minute, but they are a handful. You break up Sheffield United by two or three players and suddenly the system gets disrupted. I will go for a Newcastle win here.‘
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Sheffield Utd
A bold prediction from Nicholas considering Sheffield Utd have lost just ONCE on the road all season – and that was at Anfield vs table-topping Liverpool.
Mark Lawrenson (BBC)
‘Newcastle’s takeover saga rumbles on and on and on. I feel a bit sorry for their manager Steve Bruce, who has done a really good job – every time he loses he is out of a job, apparently, and it is the same with stories about him being replaced by whoever buys the club.
‘Sheffield United did not really look like scoring for long periods against Aston Villa and, sadly for them, everyone who mattered missed it when they did get the ball into the net.
‘I don’t see many goals being scored in this set of fixtures anyway, but especially not at St James’ Park.‘
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Sheffield Utd
I think Lawro will definitely get one thing right tomorrow in that there won’t be many goals!
Michael Owen (Bet Victor)
‘Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Southampton before the break was their first win in six games in the Premier League but nonetheless I think Steve Bruce has done an excellent job in what has been a difficult season, particularly off the field. United look good for Premier League safety and are also into the quarter final of the FA Cup so I think it’s pretty surprising to hear that Bruce might be ousted if the reported takeover of the Club goes ahead.
‘Sheffield United are flying high in the league and are unquestionably there on merit but will have been bitterly disappointed that a goal wasn’t given against Aston Villa on Wednesday when the villans’ keeper Orjan Nyland clearly carried the ball over his own line. They don’t concede many goals, they grind out results and are brilliant on the eye as well.
‘Newcastle won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in December but I fancy this to end in a lively 1-1 draw.‘
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Sheffield Utd
So, one fancies us to win narrowly and the other two are backing us to come away with a point via a 1-1 draw.
Considering we’re up against a side pushing for a place in the top 6, I think most would be happy if we came away from tomorrow’s game with a result?!
