Relegation Fight Continues at St James’ Park

The Premier League relegation fight is really starting to hot up at the bottom of the table and we have another huge match to look forward to on the weekend.  Newcastle United welcome Cardiff City to St James’ Park in a game which has huge ramifications for the relegation zone.

A win for Newcastle United will move them above Cardiff City in the table and could see them go as high as 15th if other results go their way. Cardiff City are currently one place above Newcastle United in the league and 1 point better off.  If this Bluebirds win, they could also move up to 15th place in the Premier League.

Newcastle United were in action on Tuesday night in the FA Cup and were forced into extra-time at Blackburn Rovers.  A replay was less than ideal but the Magpies came out on top in the end to win the match 4-2 and progress to the fourth round.

It was an important win for Newcastle United and their first in seven games.  Trends show they have a very poor record and Newcastle United have won just four of their last twenty-five games in all competitions.

They have lost eight of their last eleven home Premier League matches and have scored an average of just 0.67 goals per game at home this season.  Each of Newcastle United’s three home matches have seen under 2.5 goals.

Cardiff City were knocked out of the FA Cup by Gillingham but picked up a point in their return to Premier League action last weekend. However, the point came thanks to a 0-0 draw at home with Huddersfield Town and that was a game Cardiff City fans were hoping to see their team win.

The 0-0 draw means Cardiff City have failed to score a goal in each of their last three games in all competitions and it is little wonder they are in the market for a striker.  Trends show Cardiff City have won only one of their last seven matches in all competitions and that was a good away win at Leicester City.

However, trends show Cardiff City have lost seven of their last nine away games in all competitions and have scored an average of 0.55 goals in away matches this season.

Looking ahead to the team news and Newcastle United are without Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett due to injury and also have doubts over Mohamed Diame.  Both Yoshinori Muto and Sung-Yueng Ki are on international duty.

Cardiff City are hoping to have several players back in training this week.  Víctor Camarasa is the main concern as he battles back from a muscle injury while there are doubts over Sean Morrison, Daniel Ward, Kadeem Harris, Matthew Connolly, Kenneth Zahore and Jazz Richards.

If you are hoping to see a free-flowing, high scoring game of football this weekend this is probably one to miss.  Neither team are in good goal scoring form or winning games regularly but Newcastle United will see this as a great opportunity to win back-to-back matches and could nick it by a single goal.