Newcastle vs West Ham prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-02-03 17:30.
Newcastle United approach this weekend having broken further ground under Saudi Arabian ownership after reaching a first major cup final in 24 years thanks to their 3-1 aggregate win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Now the focus once more shifts to a first top-four finish in exactly 20 years, a feat achieved under the late Sir Bobby Robson back in 2002/03 after taking 35 points from 20 games – four fewer than they have right now!
While an unremarkable 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace a fortnight ago was of little help to Newcastle’s cause, it did mark an unprecedented sixth straight PL clean sheet for the Tyneside club. They are also unbreached in five PL home games (W4, D1), contributing to a record that sees them start the round as one of six teams yet to drop points after netting the opener on home turf (W6).
In contrast to his thriving touchline counterpart Eddie Howe, West Ham United boss David Moyes is simply a relieved figure after beating old employers Everton 2-0 on January 21, in a game that might well have spelt his dismissal if lost. That victory moved the Hammers up to 16th in the table, but with no PL win over a currently higher-placed team since October 9, further progress into mid-table looks unlikely in the short term.
Considering West Ham face the first of four consecutive PL visits to teams that ended January inside the top top-six, they’ll be desperate to change the narrative here. Their character will undoubtedly be tested in the coming weeks, but Moyes hasn’t exactly suffered here of late, with the sole defeat across his five most recent personal jaunts to St James’ Park (W3, D1) coming behind closed doors back in April 2021.
Players to watch: Newcastle’s marquee January arrival Anthony Gordon (£45m) is set to make his debut for the Magpies here, and seeks his first PL goal since October 2022. He might dislike the sight of West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen though, with the Hammers’ playmaker netting a first-half brace as Gordon looked on from the Everton bench two weeks ago. Bowen also opened the scoring inside ten minutes during West Ham’s recent 2-0 FA Cup win at Derby.
Hot streak: Newcastle’s last three PL home games have stood goalless at the hour mark.