Premier League - Newcastle v West Brom Odds and Betting Preview

NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND

After starting the season very brightly, Newcastle have now hit a very rough patch of form and are winless in their last five matches. West Brom travel to the North East galvanised by their victory against Blackburn on the weekend. The home side are the favourites to take all three points at 10/11 with Ladbrokes. The draw is given at 5/2 with bet365 whereas a win for the visitors is down at 3/1 with Paddy Power.

Alan Pardew’s side will be without the influential Yohan Cabaye in midfield as well as Peter Lovenkrands who is looking at three weeks rest after picking up a calf injury. Newcastle have proved that they have the potential to be a truly quality team however their recent string of results suggests that there is much more work to be done. Yet they have shown the professionalism of successful sides. They have taken the lead seven times this season, and won each of these games. Also they are unbeaten against teams occupying places in the bottom half of the table, with six wins and two draws against these weaker opponents.

Roy Hodgson’s West Brom have not had the start to season they would’ve wished for by any means. That said they can thank Father Christmas that they are playing Newcastle now, rather than a month ago. Newcastle’s defence is depleted and strikers Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie must be very excited about this opportunity. Likewise the Baggies have been much better on the road; they’ve snatched 11 points on the road compared to only seven at the Hawthorns. History isn’t on their side however as the last time West Brom won on Tyneside it was 1977.

West Brom have only scored 16 goals this season, which is the third worst in the league. So in the Over/Under market under two goals is at 2/1 with bet365. On the other hand in the last eight matches between these two sides a massive 33 goals have been scored. Odds on a game with more than 5.5 goals are priced up at 12/1 with bet365 and no doubt the neutrals will be hoping for this bet to come good. In the correct score market the apparently most likely result is the 1-1 draw at 11/2 with StanJames.com. Punters expecting the Magpies to return to winning ways could bet on a 3-0 win at 16/1 with Paddy Power or a 4-1 at 40/1 with bet365. The Baggies are at 8/1 with Ladbrokes to snatch a 1-0 win.

As always Demba Ba is the main strike force for Newcastle. He has had a fantastic 2011 and will no doubt want to go into the New Year in the same vein of form. He is at 7/2 with bet365 to break the deadlock. His strike partner Leon Best is given odds of 13/2 to be first name on the scoresheet, at second favourite. For the visitors hope lies with Odemwingie and Long. Odemwingie is at 15/2 with StanJames.com to score first and his ex-Reading partner in crime is at 7/1 with bet365. However, as Roy Hodgson has drawn attention to, the team needs to create more chances, as their lack of goals is not because they have not been clinical enough.

 The game kicks off at 8.00 tonight.

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