3 crunch games coming up for Newcastle United

We’re only 4 league games in to the season but you could argue that Newcastle United’s televised match against Brighton this Saturday evening could go some way in shaping the way the season will go for both sides.

At the time of writing, Newcastle United are unbelievably still 7/4 favourites to win the league and a slightly baffling 4/7 just to get promoted. I thought those odds might have drifted a bit given the way we have started the season but obviously not. Brighton are 3rd favourites behind ourselves and Norwich City to win the league at 11/2 and are 6/4 to get promoted so you would assume that both clubs should be in the mix come May.

I am glad the first game against Brighton is at home, rather than away. We have had a dreadful run of games against Brighton at their place in recent years so yes, I am glad we face that at St James’ Park for the first encounter.

Newcastle United won their 3rd game on the trot against a weak Cheltenham Town side last night with a fairly easy 2-0 victory in the EFL Cup. I say straight forward as in the end it was a bit of a stroll but it could have turned out differently given the magpie’s totally inept first half performance. In fact, the performances in the first half are starting to worry me; even last season under Rafa we played poorly in every single first half, only to pick up and often dominate the second. Against a strong Brighton side this could be fatal, especially if they score early. I think we have actually been incredibly lucky in the last 3 games not to concede; against strong opposition I suspect we won’t be as lucky and could be under serious pressure should we defend the way we have been doing recently.

There are of course doubts over head injury victims Gayle, Perez and Mitrovic from the game last night but I suspect all 3 will be fit for Saturday.

Full back DeAndre Yedlin has signed from Spurs as a direct replacement for the out-going Daryl Janmaat but is unlikely to figure in the Brighton game so I would imagine Vurnon Anita will continue at right back. How the rest of the team will line up will be anyone’s guess given Rafa’s squad rotation/dropping tendencies this season but I’d like to think confidence will be running high from the recent run of victories and we should be able to snatch a victory. With away games against Derby, QPR and Aston Villa coming up, victory, or at the very least avoiding defeat, is almost mandatory.

Howay the lads!