Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Newcastle United are again in cup motion this weekend, solely this time it’s the FA Cup fourth spherical after a particular Wednesday evening at St James’ Park noticed us ebook our place within the 2025 Carabao Cup remaining at Wembley.
The monumental win on Wednesday can have little doubt used up loads of bodily and psychological vitality, however Newcastle should now regroup forward of our journey to Birmingham.
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has chimed in together with his predictions for our go to to St. Andrew’s, with complacency taking part in it’s half in dwelling defeats to Bournemouth and Fulham, we actually need to be dedicated in our method in opposition to the League One leaders.
Sutton has shared his ideas on Newcastle United, Wednesday’s win and the in-form Birmingham Metropolis facet we’ll tackle right now, with the Blues no pushovers in our second recreation in opposition to Soccer League opposition within the competitors this season.
In his newest prediction piece for BBC Sport, he stated: ‘There have been raucous scenes at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening after Newcastle had crushed Arsenal within the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
‘What a superb outcome over two legs in opposition to the Gunners, and why wouldn’t Magpies followers need extra of the identical within the FA Cup as effectively? They need to finish their lengthy anticipate a trophy and they’re going to head for St Andrew’s on a excessive.
‘I do marvel if Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will relaxation one or two of his key males, as a result of his facet are going for a prime 4 end within the Premier League too. But when I had been him I’d not be resting anybody in opposition to a Birmingham facet who’re in implausible kind on the prime of League One.
‘I’m an enormous fan of Birmingham boss Chris Davies, who hung out working with Brendan Rogers at just a few golf equipment, together with Celtic, however has stepped up as a supervisor himself. I all the time admire individuals who do this.
‘Davies has signed just a few gamers from north of the border for the Blues, and likewise spent greater than £10m on Jay Stansfield from Fulham in August. That could be a little bit of clout for a League One membership to have, however Birmingham wished to go straight again up after being relegated final season, and it seems like it is going to repay.
‘It is a shot to nothing for them in opposition to Newcastle, and I feel they’ll give them a very good recreation – however I’m going with Newcastle to return out on prime.’
Sutton’s prediction: Birmingham 1-2 Newcastle
You’ll count on some rotation from Howe as Sutton factors out, with the boss hinting at modifications in his pre-match press convention on Friday morning.
Lewis Miley and Will Osula particularly impressed in opposition to Bromley and may have completed sufficient to earn a begin right here, although Callum Wilson’s return to health could hurt the Dane’s possibilities.
Nick Pope can even be eyeing a return to Howe’s XI, with the likes of Sean Longstaff, Emil Krafth and Matt Targett additionally hoping for uncommon begins.
Newcastle have misplaced simply eight of their final 27 away video games, successful 16 of these in a stretch that leads again to our first journey on the highway in 2024 once we claimed bragging rights with ease in opposition to Sunderland.
Some large away video games lie forward the place we might do effectively to match or higher our 60% successful file. Beginning with Brum, we then have a trio of Premier League travels to take care of (Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool, West Ham) earlier than our journey to Wembley in opposition to the Reds.
Even with gamers resting we should always have sufficient to get previous Birmingham and, although something can occur in a recreation of soccer, it might see the sensation fall a little bit bit flat after a colossal evening at SJP midweek.
