Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
Two sides enjoying their brightest spells of the season, Burnley will travel to a revitalized St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Newcastle
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of a 2-0 win over rock-bottom Huddersfield over the weekend, the mood in Rafa’s Benitez’s camp couldn’t be any higher. Now holding a four-point buffer over the drop zone and desperately looking to extend that margin, Newcastle’s 1-0 loss to Spurs earlier in the month is just their only defeat in their last five top-flight appearances. One area in particular most impressing the former Real Madrid boss will be the Magpies’ recent form at St. James Park. Newcastle have now won their last three Premier League matches on Tyneside, including a 2-1 win against defending champions Manchester City last month. If Benitez’s side can pick up a fourth consecutive win at St. James’ on Tuesday, it would be their best run of home form in over 10 months. A man who has really been spearheading the Magpies’ charge has been West Brom loanee Salomon Rondon. Finding the net against Huddersfield on Saturday, the Venezuelan international has been directly involved in 46% of Newcastle’s 24 Premier League goals this season.
Team News
Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey could feature for the first time since suffering the recurrence of a thigh complaint in early January.
Ki Sung-yueng, Paul Dummett and Joselu were all named as substitutes at the weekend after recovering from injuries.
Ciaran Clark and Rob Elliot are Newcastle’s only two absentees.
Burnley
As for the visitors, much like Tuesday’s hosts, the mood in Sean Dyche’s camp is at a season high. Picking up a very impressive win at home to title dark horses Tottenham over the weekend, Burnley are unbeaten in eight Premier League games, their best run of form since 1966. Holding a six-point buffer over the drop zone and firmly believing that they are going to secure another season in the top-flight, fans around Turf Moor will be growing more impressed by the Clarets’ form on the road. Burnley are enjoying a four-match unbeaten run away from Lancashire, a run that stems back to the middle of December. While Newcastle have their own striker enjoying a purple patch, Dyche will able to call upon his own in-form man. Finding the net against Tottenham over the weekend, New Zealand international Chris Wood has netted four goals in his last four Premier League appearances, as many as in his previous 27 in the competition.
Team News
Burnley have no fresh injury concerns. Robbie Brady and Johann Berg Gudmundsson returned from muscle problems as substitutes against Spurs.
Key Factors to Consider
- Newcastle are attempting to do the league double over Burnley for the first time since the 1954-55 season.
- Burnley have not won at Newcastle in five attempts since April 1976.
- Four of the last five meetings between Burnley and Newcastle have seen both teams score.
- Burnley are unbeaten in eight league games (W5, D3), their longest top-flight streak since a run of nine in 1966.
- All seven of Salomon Rondon’s league goals this season have come in wins or draws. He has scored three goals in four Premier League starts against Burnley.
Conclusion
With both sides enjoying their brightest spells of the campaign, it looks like Tuesday could prove to be a lively encounter. Given both Newcastle and Burnley have two strikers enjoying a bright run of form, coupled with four of the last five meetings seeing both teams find the net, we’re backing a similar result at St. James’ Park.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
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