Football Betting

Newcastle/ Sunderland

Newcastle "welcome" Sunderland this weekend, extending the hand of friendship to their near neighbours with the same warmth the people of Portsmouth showed when alerted of a paedophile in their midst a few years ago (and, as legend has it, a paediatrician. Near enough.)

Crude daubings, scary chants and finger-across-the-throat-gestures should be the order of the day, which conveniently masks the fact that this is the highlight of Newcastle's season. While Kevin Keegan may have successfully completed Task A – avoid the drop – his recipe for success still seems to be based on his enthusiasm "rubbing off" on the players, an almost medieval faith in these sports-scientific times.

If Wisey and the rest of Mike Ashley's mates don't get busy in the transfer market this summer, and they've yet to show they know what they are doing, then the manager's enthusiastic rubbings alone are not going to lift them toward glory, and this fixture will be their Cup Final for the next few years at least.

The Wager suggests the trophy should be a bucket with a hole in it.

Click here to place your bets

SPECIAL SETANTA DEAL FOR CHICKENDINNER USERS: £5 a month for three months if sign up before Friday night - click here and quote code 1904.

To find trends and research results, head to the chickendinner stats centre

Free £25 bet with Betfair

Newcastle
Last six: DWWWDL
Last six league games: DWWWDL
Last six league home games: WWLLDD
Injuries: Milner (ankle/foot, doubtful), Carr (hamstring, doubtful), Emre (ankle, April 26), Cacapa (groin, May 3), Given (groin, May 31), Krul (dislocated shoulder, June)
Suspensions: None

Sunderland
Last six: LWWWLL
Last six league games: LWWWLL
Last six league away games: WWDLLL
Injuries: Yorke (knee, doubtful), Ward (back, May 31), Etuhu (knee, May 31), Wallace (ACL knee, May 31)
Suspensions: None

Headline Trends

» Sunderland haven't beaten Newcastle in eight meetings.

» You have to go back to 1990 to find the last time Newcastle fired a blank in this fixture.

» Kevin Keegan has managed Newcastle in four Tyne-Wear derbies and has won every time.

Sunderland

» Sunderland's last win over the old foe came at St James' Park (2-1, 2000).

» Sunderland have failed to score in thirteen matches this season - only Derby have a worse record.

» Sunderland have won just one of their seven away games against clubs outside the top ten.

» Sunderland have lost ten games by one goal in the league this season.

Newcastle

» Newcastle haven't gone more than five league games unbeaten in the past two years.

» chickendinner superfact: Newcastle are unbeaten in eight home games against bottom-half teams (five wins, three losses).

Any other business

» There have been eighteen encounters since the last goalless Tyne-Wear derby.

» Sunderland have scored first in the last two Tyne-Wear derbies, but failed to win either.

» There has never been a red card in any of the thirteen Premier League clashes between Newcastle and Sunderland.

» Mark Viduka hasn't scored in his last six games against Sunderland.

17/04/08

Premier League Betting, best odds