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!
Sunderland versus Queens Park Rangers
Premier League, Saturday (3pm)
There’s no hiding from the fact that they were awful on Tuesday night against Blackburn, with this Tuesday’s FA Cup quarter final replay against Everton most prominent in their minds so this could well be another one to miss for the spectators, as relegation threatened Rangers come to the Stadium of Light galvanised from Wednesday night’s great escape against Liverpool, where they came from two goals down to steal a last minute victory. Expect changes from Martin O’Neill and expect a red hot welcome from former Newcastle man Joey Barton, who should start for Mark Hughes’s men, despite criticism being aimed at his performances of late.
A dour draw on Wearside, with all eyes on Tuesday. 0-0.
West Brom v Newcastle
Premier League, Sunday (4pm)
The Baggies go quietly about their business in the Premier League and sit 13th, just four points from the coveted 40. It’s not in Newcastle’s nature to go about things quietly and they are steaming towards Europe in what has been nothing short of a remarkable campaign. The Toon Army have lost less games on the road than West Brom have at home (six against eight) so this one could well catch the eye of the away-day coupon punter. Not Aycliffe today, who know too well to back against Roy Hodgson’s men at home – we had our fingers burned as they toppled Sunderland earlier this month – and today we think they’ll edge it.
A narrow 2-1 win for the Baggies, to leave Pardew’s men sweating on that European berth for now.
Middlesbrough v Bristol City
Championship, Saturday (3pm)
Boro are up and down of late, but Tuesday’s draw at West Ham will give them momentum coming into this game against a City side who are sitting just one place above the trapdoor. Tony Mowbray failed to add to his ranks as the loan deadline slammed shut on Friday, but with Kevin Thomson near due to return, they should have too much for Derek McInnes’ men, who have won just once in their last 11 outings. Boro won the reverse fixture in December with a late, late Malaury Martin winner but today we firmly expect them to right recent wrongs at the Riverside, and win this one comfortably, as they look to stave off the challenge from Birmingham, Cardiff and Hull, and hang on to at the very least, the sixth spot the currently occupy.
A Riverside rout as Mogga’s men win this one 3-0.
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