Newcastle United could be catapulted towards Premier League top four – BBC Sport pundit

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Some interesting comments from this BBC Sport pundit on Newcastle United.

Chris Sutton speaking ahead of Saturday afternoon at Portman Road.

Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players looking to make it three wins in a row.

Seven goals and two dominant performances overwhelming both Leicester and Brentford this past week.

Chris Sutton talking to BBC Sport – 19 December 2024:

“Maybe I should mention Mr Fields – an Ipswich fan who teaches my daughter – every week so the Tractor Boys stand a better chance of winning?

“It worked for them last week, when they beat Wolves, but I am not sure it will have the same effect this time.

“The strength of the Premier League means the table is so congested at the moment, with only six points separating Nottingham Forest in fourth, and Manchester United in 13th.

“Newcastle are 12th and have been very average at times, but they strike me as being a team who are in a false position, compared to what they are capable of.

“The busy Christmas period could change the look of the table dramatically, and a couple of wins could catapult someone towards the top four.

“Could that team be Newcastle?

“Yes, if they click, and I definitely fancy them here. Ipswich have not won at home yet this season and I don’t see that changing this weekend.

“Prediction: Ipswich 1 Newcastle 2”

So is the BBC Sport man on the money with his comments?

Well, this has been a season of inconsistency throughout the Premier League, with Liverpool the only exception.

Newcastle United have been up there with the ‘best’ of them when it comes to that inconsistency.

Could that be changing?

Could United be ‘catapulted’ towards (into?!!) the Premier League top four?

Ahead of the November internationals, it looked like they were building up a real head of steam, home wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as that excellent away victory at Forest.

However, when Newcastle played well in the first half against West Ham but failed to score AND conceded the only Hammers chance in the opening 45 minutes, they dropped off, a poor second half as they lost that game 2-0 and then a strange game at Palace. United not terrible in their general play but totally failing to trouble the Crystal Palace goal, Marc Guehi earning Newcastle a point with an own goal.

Following that though, these next four matches have seen Newcastle’s form pick up again, very good against Liverpool, Leicester and Brentford (cup), whilst the first half at the GTech Community Stadium was actually very good – apart from a couple of defensive lapses that were punished with excellent strikes. These last four matches, only the awful second half at Brentford a real negative.

Which brings us back to this Ipswich game.

I think if Newcastle United do have any aspirations to get close to the top four, then this is the type of match you think they surely have to win. Victory on Saturday would see brilliant momentum ahead of then Villa (home) and Man U (away) to finish off 2024.

If NUFC for example beat Ipswich and Villa, then got at least a point at Old Trafford, you would be looking at least 60 points for a progressive in-form Newcastle at the halfway point of the season.

From what I have seen, Ipswich haven’t looked that bad this season, rather a case of finding the Premier League a little bit too much of a step up in class, where they are let down in key moments by an understandable lack of real quality generally in their team.

Liam Delap has looked a really promising player of quality for Ipswich but a timely suspension sees him miss just this Newcastle match, after picking up a fifth yellow card. Only Everton and Southampton have scored less than Ipswich’s 16 PL goals, of which Delap has scored six of them, with an own goal included as well, it means all the rest of the Ipswich squad have scored only nine goals in the 16 PL matches.

In the eight home PL matches, Liam Delap has scored three of their six goals, the rest of the Ipswich squad only three goals between them in the eight games.

Newcastle in contrast have scored an average of three goals per match in their last four games in all competitions, if they can manage another three on Saturday, or even two, then you’d have to be confident of the three points.

A massive incentive is there, we just need the Newcastle players to end this pre-Xmas spell with another win.

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)

Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Week commencing Monday 6 January – Arsenal v Newcastle TBC

Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)