On Tuesday Newcastle thrashed Preston 6-0 to move into the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup and, as chance would have it, Preston are also their opponents this weekend in the Championship. However, Preston will have home advantage this time.
Newcastle sit top of the table with 31 points and have won 10 out of their last 12 league games. They will be looking to make it an impressive six wins in a row to make sure that come the end of round 15, they are still sitting pretty at the top of the league.
History, as well as form, is also on Newcastle’s side as they have not lost to Preston in their last four league matches; Preston failed to score in three of these matches.
In fact, Newcastle have kept a clean sheet in five out of their last six matches against Preston in all competitions. You have to go all the way back to 1979 to find the last time Preston managed to beat Newcastle.
Before their drubbing on Tuesday night, Preston had been on a decent run of form; out of their last six games they have won four and drawn two.
After having gone nine home games in a row without a win, Preston have won their last four home matches.
Whilst Preston’s recent home record has been pretty impressive of late, Newcastle’s away record of late has been equally as impressive; in their last six away games they have won five and drawn once. Preston’s home form and Newcastle’s away form should make for a very fascinating encounter.
When it comes down to absentees, Benitez is sweating over the fitness of their top scorer, Dwight Gayle (hamstring injury). Other than that he has no other new injuries or suspensions to worry about.
For Preston, Alan Browne is suspended after he got sent off against Newcastle during the week for elbowing Jack Colback. Marnick Vermijl and Alex Baptiste were cup-tied on Tuesday, but they are now available to play this weekend. Irishman Aiden McGeady is now fit again, however.
This will undoubtedly be a tougher game for Newcastle, but they should still win quite comfortably.
Prediction: 1-3
