Looking at these Premier League matches on Saturday in this round.
Watch the other matches from Newcastle United’s perspective.
Eddie Howe and his players will not play at home against Crystal Palace until 3 p.m. on Sunday.
That is one of six matches in the Premier League tomorrow.
But for now, as a Newcastle United fan, take a look at today’s four Premier League games and think about what you would like to happen and what is most likely to happen in terms of results.
My conclusions and predictions for Saturday’s matches
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (12.30)
Last season, Villa finished one place and one point above Vorst.
At this point it’s ‘a little’ difficult to think that if Forest had won at home to Chelsea on the final day of last season, Nuno and Forest would have finished fourth and would currently be in the Champions League.
Instead, Forest are the third manager in charge this season and are battling relegation in fourth place.
Forest had quite a new manager bounce with Sean Dyche, with his first six PL games in charge yielding three wins, a draw and two defeats. However, their last five PL games have involved four defeats and a home win over Spurs.
Aston Villa actually had a WORSE start to the season than Forest, Villa with three points from the first five PL games compared to five points for Forest.
However, Villa then recorded a remarkable run of twelve wins and just one defeat in their next thirteen Premier League matches.
Aston Villa then took a 4-1 lead at Arsenal in midweek and while I don’t expect them to fall apart, I do think Villa’s winning form owes a lot to luck, fine margins and individual brilliance from Morgan Rodgers. In that run of 12 wins in 13, only one of the wins was by a margin of more than one goal. When watching Villa I often thought/think they looked average at best but somehow found a way to win.
Forest lost 2-0 to Everton in midweek and given the form of the two clubs, almost everyone will see this as a home win. However, I think we could get a point out of this from a typical ultra-defensive positioning from Sean Dyche. No surprise if it ends goalless!
Brighton v Burnley (3 p.m.)
Another match where I suspect the gut reaction of most will be that the home team will win for sure.
However, Brighton failed to win any of their six games in December, taking just three points from a possible eighteen.
Burnley had lost seven PL games in a row before conceding a draw against Bournemouth and one at home to Everton. We then saw Newcastle United come under intense second-half pressure from Scott Parker’s side on Tuesday, but Eddie Howe’s side kept them out for the win.
A draw is very possible here.
Wolves vs West Ham (3pm)
Their combined 38 Premier League matches this season have produced just three wins.
Last season they finished in fourth and sixth place, this time they are at the bottom and in third place.
I’d be surprised if they don’t both get relegated and Wolves see this as possibly their best chance of winning this season. They scored for their third point of the season last time out at Old Trafford and were a bit unlucky when they lost 2-1 at Anfield the game before.
I have a strange feeling that Wolves could finally get that victory today, although any outcome is possible between these two fighters.
Bournemouth – Arsenal (5.30pm)
Another match with a big favorite and no surprise if Arsenal makes five PL wins in a row.
Although Bournemouth have not won any of their last ten PL matches since October, they have drawn four of the last five.
While they still have talisman Semenyo, which gives them a big threat and hopefully they can get another draw here against Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.
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