Newcastle want a must-win against Cambridge United
Saudi club Newcastle United remain in relegation danger after a false start in the English top flight. The change of coach has not yet brought the desired turnaround, but the “Magpies” still have a realistic chance of staying in the relegation zone. That there is enough potential in the squad was already shown in the most recent competitive match against Man Utd.
Newcastle got a well-deserved point against the currently most expensive squad in the Premier League and thus ended the series of bankruptcies. In the FA Cup, the nouveau riche club is now aiming for its first competitive win of the calendar year. The home game against Cambridge Utd comes at a good time for the Magpies.
The black and whites from Newcastle have not lost a match against Cambridge in their last four competitive games. In fact, they have recently won three in a row. If the winning streak continues in the FA Cup, odds of up to 1.26 are paid out on Newcastle vs. Cambridge United for a bet on the Saudi club.
With Cambridge suffering four defeats in their last five away games across the competition, we think betting on a Newcastle home win is a no-brainer, at least in the 1X2 market. However, the visitors certainly have the potential to at least score at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park.
Newcastle – Statistics & current form
Staying in the league is the primary goal for the newly-rich Newcastle club this season. Major investments are not expected until the summer, so it is all the more important to remain in the English top flight. In order to achieve the minimum goal this season, a new head coach was introduced before the end of the first half of the season after the false start.
Eddie Howe, formerly head coach at Bournemouth, took over a few months ago. So far, the desired turnaround under the 44-year-old Englishman has failed to materialise, but the Magpies have nevertheless made good progress in recent weeks.
As the recent match against Manchester United showed, Newcastle have enough potential in their squad to challenge the league’s elite. It would therefore be more than surprising if the Saudi club were to lose out to a League One side in the FA Cup just a week after their strong performance against Man Utd.
Will Newcastle take the frustration out of the game?
Under Howe, the Magpies have lost just one of five home games in the English top flight. It is therefore natural to bet on the black and whites in the cup match between Newcastle and Cambridge United. Especially as Howe celebrated his only victory as coach of the “Magpies” at St. James’ Park.
Frustration cannot be ruled out in the cup match against third-tier opponents either. Newcastle, after all, have a much stronger squad than Cambridge United, even with a potential second string. Howe will have to do without six players due to injury in the process.
Predicted Newcastle line-up:
Woodman – Murphy, Schar, Lascelles, Manquillo – Almiron, Hendrick, Shelvey, Longstaff, Joelinton – Gayle
Last matches played by Newcastle:
Premier League
12/27 2021 – Newcastle United 1 – 1 Manchester United
12/19 2021 – Newcastle United 0 – 4 Manchester City
12/16 2021 – Liverpool FC 3 – 1 Newcastle United
12/12 2021 – Leicester 4 – 0 Newcastle United
12/04 2021 – Newcastle United 1 – 0 Burnley
Cambridge United – Statistics & current form
Cambridge United, meanwhile, are bobbing around in League One no man’s land. After a poor first half of the season, the “Yellows” have no realistic chance of making the play-offs. At the start of the second half of the season, Cambridge are already 17 points away from sixth place in the table and thus the last place for the promotion play-offs.
On the other hand, the lead over the relegation places is vanishingly small. Only five points separate United from the red zone. Although head coach Mark Bonner’s side have not won any of their last three League One matches, their lead over the relegation places has remained unchanged. In the dress rehearsal before the away game in Newcastle, United even picked up a point against Portsmouth FC.
Nevertheless, it is more than risky to bet on Newcastle vs. Cambridge United. Bonner’s team has been far weaker away from home than at home. Cambridge have only won two of their last ten away games in the competition.
Continuing the recent away misery?
The defence in particular left a weak impression. After all, they conceded a total of twelve goals in the last six away games – an average of two goals conceded per away game. It is quite possible that the next away debacle will follow at Newcastle United’s St. James’.
The last time Cambridge won a competitive match against the Magpies was in April 1984. Since then, United are winless against Saturday’s opponents from Newcastle. In their current form and especially after the poor first half of the season, it is obvious that the negative trend against Newcastle will continue in the upcoming cup match.
Head coach Mark Bonner will at least be spared any major personnel worries in the cup match. Compared to the starting eleven, which recently picked up a point against promotion candidates Portsmouth, United are not expected to make any major changes.
Predicted Cambridge United line-up:
Mitov – Williams, Okedina, Iredale, Dunk – Digby, O’Neil – Hoolahan, May, Brophy – Ironside
Last matches played by Cambridge United:
League One
01/03 2022 – Cambridge U 0 – 0 Portsmouth
12/18 2021 – Cambridge U 0 – 1 Rotherham
12/11 2021 – Charlton 2 – 0 Cambridge U
12/07 2021 – Cheltenham 0 – 5 Cambridge U
FA Cup
12/04 2021 – Cambridge U 2 – 1 Exeter
Newcastle – Cambridge United Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
This is the 17th time the two clubs have met. So far, Newcastle leads the direct comparison with a record of 9-3-4. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last four competitive matches against Cambridge. The last time they lost to United was almost 38 years ago. Since then, Newcastle have won three out of four competitive matches against Cambridge.
The Magpies have never lost at home to Cambridge United in the entire history of the club. In eight home games, Newcastle have a record of 7-1-0 against their underclassed opponents.
Newcastle – Cambridge United Tip
The primary goal for the “Magpies” this season is to stay in the Premier League. After all, the nouveau riche club from Newcastle wants to make a splash on the transfer market in the summer at the latest and prepare itself for the championship fight in the English top flight – at least this is set as a long-term goal.
Due to the situation in the Premier League, the last two match days of the “Magpies” were cancelled. For the first time this calendar year, Newcastle United will play a competitive match in the FA Cup. The home match against Cambridge is in a way a compulsory task for the black and whites. After all, Saturday’s opponents play in the third-tier League One.
Because the Saudi club has at least made good starts since the change of coach, we don’t rule out a frustration release in the cup match against Cambridge. In the league, Newcastle had already scored against Manchester United before the long break and only just missed a home win.
With a bet of seven units, we dare to bet on the cup match between Newcastle vs. Cambridge United at odds of 1.83 on HT/FT: 1/1. For this, we bet seven out of ten possible units. For Newcastle, it would be their fourth successive win in a competitive match against Cambridge.
