Newcastle vs Tottenham Hotspur Predictions

• Tottenham have lost five of six clashes with the top four, including three defeats from three away
• Newcastle have won eight home games this season and they’ve won five of their last six
• Callum Wilson has a great scoring record for Newcastle of late and they have won over half the games he has started

Top four showdown

With these two sides heading into the weekend sitting fourth and fifth respectively, Champions League hopes are on the line at St James’ Park this weekend. This is a fitting fixture for such a pivotal moment for the Magpies, as Spurs were their first opponent last term post-takeover.

The onus is on the visitors in this one, as they come into Sunday’s clash sitting three points shy of Newcastle. However, their away form is a huge problem and could end up costing them a place in the Champions League.

Changes likely for hosts

Newcastle head into this clash on the back of a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa, which opened the door to Unai Emery’s side in the fight for the top four. They will be wary of allowing that to happen two weekends in a row.

Expect Eddie Howe to ring the changes for this clash, with Callum Wilson a contender to return to the side. The striker was brought on as the Magpies chased the game at Villa Park, while he’s been something of a lucky charm for Howe’s team this season. The Magpies have won 56% of their league games when Wilson starts this season, winning just six of the other 14 outings.

Wilson has been involved in eight goals in his last nine Premier League starts for Newcastle, scoring six and assisting two. He has three goals across his last four matches despite playing just 153 minutes during that run. He’s also a major threat from set pieces, which is an area where Spurs have struggled on the road this term. Given that, look to Wilson to return to the side and make an impact.

Spurs to fall short

Tottenham’s away form has been average this season, with the visitors winning five and losing five of their 15 trips. They’re winless in four on the road, while they head into this clash having lost all three of their visits to the sides above them. They’ve also lost five of their six clashes with the current top four after a 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle earlier this term.

The hosts had won five straight before that loss to Villa and they’ve only lost once at home all season. With eight victories in 14 home matches, Howe’s side are looking strong at St James’, so look to them to take the points against a side who are poor on the road.

The hosts should be confident of shutting Spurs down in this one too. 64.9% of Tottenham’s Premier League goals this season have come in the second half of games (37/57), the highest proportion in the division. However, the Magpies have conceded fewer goals after half-time than any other side and they’ve won to nil on six occasions at home this season. Given that, look to a 2-0 home win.

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