Newcastle United take on Derby County on Saturday in the Championship, and HITC pundits give their predictions on the likely outcome.
Newcastle United 2-1 Derby County
Steve McClaren’s hotly anticipated return to St James’ Park should be a real spectacle, and his Rams side will be determined to pull off an upset. Newcastle really should have beaten QPR in midweek, and are in a mini slump after their surprise loss to Oxford in the FA Cup. Derby are a dangerous opponent and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them capitalise on this, but I’m backing Newcastle to get back on track.
Derby manager Steve McClaren
Newcastle United 1-2 Derby County
The Magpies are still yet to fully recover from their post-Christmas blip and, after conceding five goals in the space of five days, Derby will travel to St James’ with confidence. For what it’s worth, the last time Newcastle ventured into the second tier The Rams beat them home and away.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
Newcastle United 1-2 Derby County
Newcastle should have recorded a routine win at home to QPR, but they didn’t, leaving Brighton top of the Championship with a game in hand. Doubts could now creep in for Rafa Benitez’s men and it would be so typical of football for Steve McClaren, the man so much-maligned by Newcastle supporters, to go to St James’ Park with Derby and put a dent in their promotion hopes. The Rams have won their last 2 and I fancy them for an upset in the North East.
Newcastle United 2-1 Derby County
These two sides had mixed results in midweek and Newcastle simply cannot afford to drop more points this weekend after their late disappointment against QPR. Derby will be buzzing from their emphatic victory against Ipswich but I can see the Magpies edging this one.
Newcastle United 1-1 Derby County
I can see Steve McClaren’s impressive Derby side securing a point at St James’s Park on Saturday. He’ll fire up his players to do a job against his former club, who are difficult to predict at home. Rafa Benitez will be hoping Dwight Gayle is fit – he could be the difference between one point and three.
Derby Manager Steve McClaren
Newcastle United 1-0 Derby County
Things are far from rosy at Newcastle, as anyone who saw Rafa Benitez’s post-QPR press conference can decipher. Under former Magpies boss Steve McClaren, Derby are tough opponents, and though I wouldn’t be surprised to see them sneak something at St. James’, the hosts should have enough quality to see them off.
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