Michael Owen has predicted that Newcastle United will be resigned to a very tight affair when they face Cardiff City this weekend.
The two sides drew 0-0 the last time they met this season, but the Magpies will be hoping to continue their confidence from Tuesday by getting all three points at St James’ Park.
However, the former Liverpool forward has pointed out a worrying record for his old team in regards to their lack of goals this season.
“No team has lost more home league games (8) than Newcastle United in the four divisions of English football, and they continue to struggle in front of goal having scored just five times in their last nine PL games,” he said in his BetVictor blog.
“Cardiff have failed to score in more games than any other team in the division this season (10) and those statistics would suggest we are likely to see a tight, tense affair at St James’s Park with opportunities at a premium.”
OPINION
Despite the fact that Newcastle managed to score four goals on Tuesday in order to beat Blackburn, Owen is right to point out what is a very worrying record for United. Their lack of goals this season has been well documented, and was particularly highlighted in the stalemate between these two sides at the beginning of the season. This is no doubt due to the fact that Benitez has not been able to spend big on a well-known striker this season, which has caused his team to fall behind in the goal scoring stakes. However, Cardiff have not been known for their attacking prowess either, so it is no surprise that Owen has predicted a tight affair between the two relegation threatened clubs. Like he said, goal scoring opportunities will be very rare between the two sides, so it is highly unlikely to be the most entertaining of fixtures. That being said, Benitez will have to make sure that Newcastle’s bad record does not continue, especially if he wants to get his team out of the relegation zone.
