Derby County vs Newcastle Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Newcastle began the new season with two defeats against Fulham and Huddersfield but already that is starting to feel like a long time ago. They’ve racked up 4 straight wins in all competitions since then to move into 4th place and victory here would really cement the Magpies as the rightful title favourites and team to beat.

They beat another of the sides expected to challenge strongly last time out when they inflicted a first defeat of the season on Brighton. Goals from Lascelles and Shelvey helped them to a 2-0 win and they also won 1-0 in their last away game which was also a tricky one at Bristol City. This is their first game since the departure of Moussa Sissoko on deadline day and the Newcastle board would have been delighted to receive a cool £30million for his services having held out for the figure all summer. He’s not featured for the club this season in any case and it should allow Rafa Benitez some more funds to spend in January but already he looks to have a squad capable of being the dominant force in this league.

Things aren’t going so well for Nigel Pearson at Derby County. The Rams were strongly expected to again be in the frame for at least the top six as they have been the last few years but a lack of goals is really starting to become a concern. They’ve only managed 1 goal in 5 league outings so far, while every other team in the division has netted at least 3 and as a result Derby are down in 18th place. They were beaten at East Midlands rivals Burton last time out in the first time the sides had ever met in a league match and it would have been a long international fortnight for Pearson and his new charges.

Derby do possess some quality in the final third but all of their forwards seem to be playing without much confidence right now and their midfield isn’t creating much with playmaker Will Hughes perhaps being occupied in too deep a role. The departure of Jeff Hendrick is another blow and on the basis of their recent showings it’s hard to see them causing Newcastle many problems in this one.

The hosts do have the best defensive record in the league though so it’s hard to see Newcastle running away with this but they have enough about them to suggest they could do what they did at Bristol City last time out on the road and sneak a narrow win. In a game that is unlikely to produce many goals, backing Newcastle to win 1-0 at 13/2 looks to offer the best value.