Our resident North-East football expert has cast his opinion on the games around the region this weekend. Try our feedback button, and see if you can beat him!
Newcastle vs Sunderland
Premier League (Sunday, 12 noon)
With both North-East giants experiencing their best campaigns in recent years, both in the top-nine of the Premier League, both with an unrivalled bond from the dressing rooms stripped of primadonnas during the past 12-months and both on the back of disappointing results last time out, this promises to be a ferocious, passionate affair, with two sides giving their all for their respective support in front of what will be a packed Sports Direct Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies won 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in August, while the corresponding fixture last season brought about a humiliating 5-1 reverse for then Black Cats’ boss Steve Bruce.
They say you can never predict the outcome of derbies, but I’m going to have to, and I’ll face the wrath of the Black Cats support for opting towards a home victory.
Newcastle to take the bragging rights, 3-1.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
Championship (Saturday, 3pm)
Boro were disappointing last Saturday as the gulf between the top-three and the chasing pack showed as Reading came to the Riverside and looked untroubled as they won 2-0, keeping their fifth consecutive clean sheet along the way.
Boro need to bounce back if they are to maintain their own promotion push, and where better than crisis club Pompey.
The south-coast outfit languish second-bottom following a 10-point penalty for their recent brush with administration coupled with a five game run during February without a three-point yield.
I’m opting for Boro to bounce back with a 2-0 victory of their own this week.
Hartlepool vs MK Dons
League One (Saturday, 3pm)
Pools are another club with promotion hopes and had last week’s disastrous result at basement boys Wycombe have gone the other way, Neale Cooper’s men would be sitting just two points from the play-off zone this morning.
That heavy 5-0 reverse was Pools’ first defeat in seven and Cooper will be looking towards another run to propel his side into the mix.
MK Dons are in fifth, hot on the heels of the top-four, and come to the Vic on the back of three victories, this following a spell were they played the sides in first, second and fourth spot in the table, meaning they themselves will be looking at a clear run of fixtures to try to climb into the automatic places.
Pools to bounce back, but Dons to maintain their unbeaten run. 2-2.
Darlington vs Stockport
Blue Square Bet Conference Premier (Saturday, 3pm)
They’re fast becoming most people’s second club after their high-profile flirtation with liquidation in January but now with their short-term future secured, the Quakers must also ensure that they are playing Conference football come August, if they are to stabilise the club and rebuild.
Craig Liddle has galvanised the dressing room and is slowly mounting some number back to his ranks, although the Conference hierarchy seems hell-bent on moving the goalposts every time he seeks a solution.
His latest recruit is club legend Neil Wainwright and with a strong crowd behind them this weekend, Darlo should overcome a poor Stockport side, sitting one place above them in the table.
County will be buoyed by their victory over second place Wrexham last weekend but I’m favouring the hosts this afternoon.
Darlington to win by the odd goal in three, 2-1.