Kick-off: 1500, 01/02/2020
Stadium: St James’ Park
Norwich boss Daniel Farke feels his side are “heading totally in the right direction” as they attempt to secure another win in their fight for Premier League survival.
The Canaries booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup by beating Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor and hope to use that as a springboard to pulling off “a miracle”.
Newcastle sit seven points above the relegation zone but were held to a goalless draw at home by League One high-flyers Oxford in the cup on Saturday.
There are always goals when these teams clash, with 28 scored in five encounters including 15 in the last two meetings at St James’ Park.
With that in mind, 19/20 for over 2.5 goals is our opening Newcastle vs Norwich prediction.
A Look At Newcastle United’s Betting Odds
Newcastle, who have not made it to the fifth round since 2006, passed up the opportunity to do so with a pallid display against Oxford despite fielding an £81million strikeforce of Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin.
Indeed, they needed goalkeeper Karl Darlow to deny Marcus Browne one on one with 20 minutes remaining and then substitute Nathan Holland at the end as the visitors threatened to spring a shock.
Boss Steve Bruce said: “Frustrated, disappointed, upset. From the first minute to the last, we were never good enough in possession, the way we gave the ball away. Our whole demeanour wasn’t right.
“But we made it really difficult for ourselves the way we surrendered possession, turned the ball over, and the amount of mistakes we made was ridiculous.”
The Magpies scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a 2-2 draw at Everton in their last game in the Premier League, in which they are unbeaten in three matches.
Both teams have scored in six of Newcastle’s last six matches in the top flight while eight of Norwich’s previous 11 have gone the same way.
With the past five meetings between the sides also coming off in this market, 3/4 that scenario occurs again is an obvious pick from the Newcastle vs Norwich odds.
Last Newcastle EPL line-up: Dubravka, Clark, Lascelles, Fernandez, Ritchie, Hayden, Almiron, Atsu, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Joelinton.
New recruits Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro may be handed Newcastle debuts, but midfielder Jonjo Shelvey could be out for another three weeks with a hamstring problem.
Defenders Emil Krafth (ankle), Jetro Willems (knee), Paul Dummett, Javier Manquillo (both hamstring) and Florian Lejeune (groin), plus strikers Andy Carroll (hip), Dwight Gayle and (hamstring) Yoshinori Muto (knock) are still sidelined.
A Look At Norwich City’s Betting Odds
Despite making seven changes from his side’s unlucky defeat at Tottenham, Farke stressed the importance of his side’s progress to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2012.
Second-half goals from Grant Hanley and Josip Drmic earned victory over a Burnley side who gave themselves hope through a 72nd-minute strike from Erik Pieters.
Farke said: “My feeling is it could have a really positive influence on the league because it’s good for the rhythm and confidence of the players who have not been so involved in recent weeks.
“It’s another great away win after a really top-class performance against Tottenham with an unlucky outcome, so we are heading totally in the right direction.”
Norwich can certainly argue they should have more than 17 points to show for their performances, with just 10 accumulated from their last 12 fixtures in which they have played some decent football.
The Canaries have also led at half-time in five of their last nine league games, with Newcastle not being in front at the break in the same period.
Let’s finish our Newcastle vs Norwich bettings tips by backing the visitors to be ahead after 45 minutes at 27/10.
Last Norwich EPL line-up: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, McLean, Rupp, Duda, Cantwell, Pukki.
Norwich expect to have midfielders Todd Cantwell (hamstring) and Emi Buendia (quadricep) available. Ibrahim Amadou is also fit again following a knee problem, but defender Ben Godfrey will serve out the last of his three-game suspension.
Additional stats
Last result:
NEWCASTLE 0-0 Oxford
Burnley 1-2 NORWICH – Grant Hanley, Josip Drmic
Head-to-head: Norwich 3-1 Newcastle, Norwich 2-2 Newcastle, Newcastle 4-3 Norwich, Norwich 3-2 Newcastle, Newcastle 6-2 Norwich
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