Newcastle vs Brighton Predictions

• Brighton have drawn 11 of their 34 league games.
• Newcastle have failed to win the last six head-to-heads
• 15 of the Magpies’ last 18 games have gone over 2.5 goals

Magpies on the rocks

Newcastle have four games to save their season and Eddie Howe may have four games to save his job.

The Magpies boss is under severe pressure after his side fell to their fifth defeat in a row and their 16th league loss of the campaign last time out against Arsenal.

Newcastle are just eight points clear of the drop at present and while it would take a miraculous situation to see them relegated, the fact that they are even in this position is a major failure on their part.

Remarkably despite their disastrous recent form, the Magpies remain eight points adrift of Brighton in sixth, demonstrating how congested the middle of the Premier League table is this season.

Seagulls on the European trail

They host the Seagulls in the first of their final four matches, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side riding high after winning six of their last eight games, including an impressive 3-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend.

That has put the visitors in pole position to secure Europa League qualification, although there are a number of teams queuing up behind them in an ultra-competitive race for European football.

Brighton were 2-1 winners when these two met earlier in the season and have a strong head-to-head record against these opponents, winning four and drawing two of the last six meetings between the pair in all competitions.

It’s not hard to see why the Seagulls have been popular in the market for this game but there were some positives from Newcastle’s narrow defeat to Arsenal last time out.

They were much improved in that clash and the return of Bruno Guimaraes in midfield is a huge positive for Eddie Howe’s men, his injury absence was a large factor in their recent downturn.

With the Brazilian back and at home, where they have been better than on the road, the Magpies could pick up a crucial point to stop the rot.

Stalemate possible

Only Bournemouth and Leeds had drawn more games than Brighton coming into this weekend and they may have to settle for a share of the spoils once more against a Newcastle side who will be desperate for a positive result.

15 of Newcastle’s last 18 games in all competitions have gone over 2.5 goals and this could be another entertaining affair. Both teams have already drawn three games 2-2 this season and a repeat of that scoreline is fancied.

Danny Welbeck is Brighton’s top scorer this season with 13 league goals and the former Arsenal striker has a strong recent record against these opponents, netting three times in his last three matches against the Magpies. He is a tempting price to score again.