Newcastle United welcome Manchester City to St James’ Park in the last quarter-final of the 2019-20 FA Cup, with the winner of this tie completing the semi-final line-up.
Newcastle come into this match looking to end a 15 year wait for a FA Cup semi-final appearance, whereas Man City look to reach a third semi-final in last four seasons.
Team News
Embed from Getty ImagesNabil Bentaleb is suspended for Newcastle after accumulating two yellow cards in earlier FA Cup rounds.
Matty and Sean Longstaff will face late fitness tests after recovering from a respective quadricep strain and knock, although Isaac Hayden (muscle) and Matt Ritchie (hamstring) will also face similar checks.
Florian Lejeune (fitness) and Ciaran Clark (ankle) are definitely absent.
Man City will be without Fernandinho as the Brazilian serves the first of a two match ban, after being sent off against Chelsea on Thursday evening.
Claudio Bravo (hamstring) and John Stones (ankle) however are set to return after missing City’s opening three games back.
Sergio Aguero (knee) and Eric Garcia (head) are still ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle are unbeaten in eight of ten previous FA Cup meetings against Manchester City (W6, D2, L2).
- Man City have won just one of six previous FA Cup trips to St James’ Park (W1, D2, L4).
- Four of Newcastle’s 11 FA Cup goals this season has come from Miguel Almiron.
- Five of Man City’s nine FA Cup goals this season have come after half time, with two of those goals coming from Gabriel Jesus.
- Newcastle have scored twice in their last two home games against Man City in all competitions.
Prediction
Newcastle seem revitalised by Project Restart because they have shown more desire in their last two games than they did pre-lockdown, which is a huge positive coming into a fixture like this against the defending champions.
Man City however have a point to prove after losing to Chelsea on Thursday through sloppy defending and careless finishing, in turn potentially playing into the Magpies’ hands if they sit back and attack City at pace like the Blues did.
I therefore can see a cracking game coming and if Newcastle can get this to extra time, I can see City’s poor away FA Cup plus recent records at St James’ Park potentially costing them here.
Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City (AET)
Result: Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City