Mark Lawrenson believes that Newcastle United will lose to Burnley this weekend.
The Magpies go into the game on the back of a three game unbeaten run, but Lawrenson believes that will end at Turf Moor.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “Burnley have lost their past three games, conceding 11 goals in the process, which is not what you expect from them under Sean Dyche – I bet training has not been much fun for them this week.
“I think we will see a reaction from them here and, at the very least, they are going to be competitive against Newcastle.
“The Magpies have been excellent of late, though. They are a such a hard-working team and it does not matter one bit that they are not always easy on the eye.
“This is going to be a terrific battle, but I would back Burnley.”
Lawrenson predicts a 2-0 defeat for the Magpies.
OPINION
This one could go either way. Newcastle are much the better side in terms of form, having won their last three, whereas Burnley boast an exact opposite record, but nonetheless, this is almost impossible to call. One thing is for sure though, and that’s that the Toon Army must put in a better shift than they did against Southampton last weekend. They may have won that one, but it was hardly a vintage outing, especially prior to Andy Carroll’s introduction from the bench, and with less possession and just 12 shots to the Saints’ 19, as per the BBC, on another day, things could have been very different. Now without Allan Saint-Maximin for the next month, things aren’t going to get any easier, but it’s important to recognise that if the Toon win this one, they could rise as high fifth in the table. Given how shockingly Steve Bruce’s appointment was received on Tyneside, that would be nothing short of madness.
