2020-21 Premier League: Week 26 – Newcastle vs Wolves

Newcastle United welcome Wolves to St James’ Park in Saturday Night Football from the Premier League.

Should Brighton fail to win at West Brom on Saturday afternoon, victory would see Newcastle move six points clear of the relegation zone and up to 16th.

Wolves meanwhile can go tenth with victory if Leeds lose at home to Aston Villa on Saturday in the teatime match.

 

Team News

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Federico Fernandez could return in defence for Newcastle after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Joelinton (knock) is also fit and in contention but Javi Manquillo (ankle), Fabian Schar (knee) and Callum Wilson (hamstring) remain ruled out.

Wolves could be without Fernando Marcal after the Portuguese international suffered a muscle injury in last weekend’s home win over Leeds.

Daniel Podence (adductor), Raul Jimenez (head) and Willy Boly (hamstring) remain absent.

 

Stat Attack

• Newcastle have drawn four of their last five league meetings against Wolves (D4, L1), with all four draws coming as 1-1 results in their last four clashes.
• Wolves have drawn three of their last five Premier League trips to St James’ Park (W1, D3, L1).
• This match will be the first Newcastle game to be refereed by Mike Dean in 508 days in all competitions, with his last refereeing appearance coming on 6 October 2019.
• Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine away league matches (W2, D2, L5).
• Steve Bruce’s Magpies have scored first in just one of four previous home games in 2021 (W1, L3).

 

Prediction

Newcastle surprisingly put in an impressive performance at Manchester United last Sunday because they dominated the opening stages, yet were let down by a mixture of defensive errors despite showing strong intent throughout.

Wolves will be pleased with the manner of how they defeated Leeds last weekend because they dug in defensively and showed excellent attacking intent, which paid off with an own goal by pure luck because Adama Traore’s shot would of been saved on any other day.

This fixture though has seen both teams closely matched with 1-1 draws in their last four meetings and with the improved form of both teams, I wouldn’t see a fifth consecutive score draw otherwise I would fancy Wolves to edge it if can show more sharpness up front.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Wolves

Result: Newcastle 1-1 Wolves