Newcastle vs Derby County

23/12- This tie features the team at the top of the bottom half of the table at 11th spot, Newcastle, hosting the last placed team Derby County. Derby are having a miserable season and their league campaign looks like an attempt to achieve the almost impossible. They are already a distant 7 points behind the second last placed team and their form looks no good as well. Derby go into this match after losing 7 continuous matches, the last one being a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough while Newcastle have won their last two encounters and the last week’s away victory at Fulham has lifted them to the 11th spot and another victory at home can possibly take them to the top half of the points table.

Derby County have been able to score a mere 6 goals in total and even with a full strength squad look quite depleted against Newcastle. It also implies that the total number of goals scored by the entire Derby team is equal to the number of goals scored by Newscastle the top scorer Martins. Derby would also be keen to make an impression, something that they have not been able to do all this season. There have been a total of 39 goals scored against them in just 17 matches, which comes to more than 2 goals per match on an average.

Newcastle on the other hand would be looking at a big margin victory so that the goal difference for them appears better as a lot of teams are being locked on similar scores. Though the team is missing Owen and Duff, Viduka and Martins have given good attacking options to the side. Overall Newcastle would look at the full three points from this while Derby would even settle for a draw and put an end to their losing streak.

Prediction: 3-0, Newcastle win