Home comforts set to give Magpies the edge over the Canaries

After enjoying seasons far greater than they could have imagined last time around, Newcastle United and Norwich City have found the going a little harder in the early stages of this campaign.

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Having just missed out on a top four place last season, expectations are high in Newcastle and the early signs are that the Magpies could struggle to emulate their achievements of a year ago. With four games gone they have managed only one win, that coming on the opening day against Tottenham, and struggled to perform after their early adventures in the Europa League.

After the two ties against Greek side Atromitos, Newcastle have put in lacklustre performances against Chelsea and Aston Villa, despite Alan Pardew resting a number of first-team players in Europe, including Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.

The huge problem that Norwich manager Chris Hughton faces as he takes on Newcastle for the first time since being sacked by them is his side’s lack of firepower. The Canaries have mustered only two goals in the league this season, making them the joint-lowest scorers alongside QPR and as a result they are 8/5 not to score at all during the 90 minutes.

The worry for Pardew ahead of the visit of Norwich is that Newcastle head into the game on the back of another mid-week European game. The Magpies drew 0-0 with Portuguese side Maritimo on Thursday evening and their preparation for Sunday’s fixture won’t have been ideal as a result, although their home record is formidable.

Newcastle only lost three times at the Sports Direct Arena in the league last season and have started this term with four points from their two home fixtures, so odds of 18/25 on the Magpies taking all three points seem fair.

The rest of bwin’s 3Way football betting market has the visitors Norwich at odds of 15/4 to pick up all three points and the draw priced at 13/5, although the latter seems unlikely as there have only been two draws in the past 15 games between the two sides.

While a home win looks the most likely you won’t get rich quick by betting on a Newcastle victory, but there are some tempting bets available, none more so than 23/20 on the home side not to score in the first half. In their four league games so far this campaign they have only scored one goal in the first 45 minutes, compared to five in the second half. Norwich themselves have only managed one first half goal in their opening games so 11/5 on the score to be 0-0 at the interval looks like it could be profitable.

The pattern of goal-scoring leads me to think that the game could well be a draw at the break with the home side emerging as victors come the final whistle and bwin is offering 15/4 on this very outcome.

The huge problem that Norwich manager Chris Hughton faces as he takes on Newcastle for the first time since being sacked by them is his side’s lack of firepower. The Canaries have mustered only two goals in the league this season, making them the joint-lowest scorers alongside QPR and as a result they are 8/5 not to score at all during the 90 minutes.

With an opposition who can’t score and a refreshed front pairing of Ba and Cisse it seems Newcastle are in the perfect position to grab their first three points on the back of a European fixture.

Recommended bet: Draw/Newcastle win @ 15/4

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