Back Newcastle to edge past Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby

 

Betfair trader Alan Thompson runs the rule over Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby from the point of view of a Newcastle fan...

 

Billed as the fight for survival, it's back to Premier League action on Sunday for Newcastle with the biggest game of the season at St James' Park, as they host local  rivals Sunderland for the 148th Tyne-Wear Derby. The clubs are separated by only 10 miles, five premier league points and the game will be played in front of 55,000  fanatical supporters representing both sides of the divide.

 

As well as the fans emotions running high, the players are also often pretty fired up. In the last three meetings there have been four dismissals and 20 yellow cards  shown. If you are looking at the bookings markets though just remember a certain Mr Cattermole isn't around and he is normally one of the instigators. Howard Webb is  the man who has been picked to control the game this time and this is the third time he has taken charge of the game. When he last performed the duties in Aug 2011, he  sent off Phil Bardsley for two bookable offences.

 

Another player that much focus will be on is 'die hard' Newcastle fan Danny Graham, who for me has been doing a fantastic job at Sunderland since signing from Swansea  in the January window (Scored NONE). He would be the first name on the Sunderland team sheet for me every week! Newcastle these days have a very international squad  but they still have the likes of Taylor, Ameobi and local young upcoming star Adam Campbell in the squad, who I am sure, will make the foreign legion all too aware of  what to expect come Sunday lunchtime.

 

Always a massive game, but adding to the local hostilities this time is the fact that both sides are desperate for points to ensure their premier league survival.  Sunderland's need though is far greater, they have tough fixtures coming up and, as my colleague Jonathan Wilson says, only goal difference keeping them out the  relegation places.

 

Sunderland have only picked up three points from their last nine games, and kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League away fixtures. However, in those  games they only failed to score on two occasions (Liverpool and Stoke). Newcastle have won their last four games at St James' Park and only failed to score at home on  two occasions this season (Man Utd and West Ham).

 

I think both teams will score on Sunday, and while betting with your heart is often a route to the poor house. I do think Newcastle are the better side and for that  reason I will be backing them to win 2-1 @ 9.2. Five of the last nine Tyne-Wear derbies have finished 1-1 so I will also be having a saver on that score line @ 7.4.

 

If you are looking for a goalscorer, check the team sheet first, but you could do worse than siding with Shola "The Mackem Slayer" Ameobi to score anytime with seven  goals in 12 games against Sunderland for Newcastle, a record only bettered by Jackie Milburn (11 goals against the Mackems).

 

The Newcastle faithful would like nothing more than to put another nail in the Sunderland relegation coffin on Sunday.

 

Recommended Bets

Newcastle to win 2-1 @ 9.2

Shola Ameobi to score at around 3.5

 

Bet HERE

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