Brighton to win second game in a row
Brighton go into Saturday’s match against Newcastle having secured five points from their last 15. It hasn’t been scintillating form, but it has been better than the Magpies’ performances. Newcastle go into their home clash with Brighton second from bottom.
The Magpies have secured just two points from 24 and have scored a mere six goals this term. Brighton will be licking their lips as they travel north. Chris Hughton’s team won their last fixture, 1-0, over West Ham. The Seagulls will fancy their chances of winning back to back games for the first time this season.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has seen his team unable to score goals this term. The Magpies have tallied the fourth fewest in the Premier League. It is the main reason the team is in such a lowly position. Newcastle haven’t been terrible defensively as Benitez has seen his players conceded 13 times, the sixth highest number in the league.
That figure is still better than Manchester United’s 14. Benitez has to solve the team’s goal scoring problem, but his reactionary tactics and management may prolong the team’s dearth of scoring. Liverpool’s Divock Origi is a possible January striker signing. However, by the time he arrives, Newcastle could be closer to relegation.
Home has not been where the heart is for Newcastle. They haven’t won at St. James’ Park and possess a –5-goal difference at home. Brighton’s away form has been similarly bad. The Seagulls have just one point from 12 on the road and a –5-goal difference.
Despite Newcastle going in as the bookies’ favourite, their form has been awful. They look like a relegation side and morale is low. Newcastle threw away a two-goal lead at Old Trafford prior to the international break. The loss was soul destroying as Newcastle showed patches of quality only to lose the fixture in the end.
Brighton hold a slight edge over Newcastle in their last six meetings. Hughton’s team has won three of six with Newcastle winning two. Their last meeting, which took place at St. James’ Park, ended in a nil-nil draw. Brighton won against Newcastle in their other meeting in 2017-18. That fixture ended 1-0.
Newcastle haven’t won their last four Premier League home matches. That winless streak will become five games without a win as Brighton will defeat the Magpies. The game should see goals with Brighton just edging it and distancing themselves from relegation.