Newcastle Toons
Fansided

Three reasons why Newcastle United must defeat Cardiff City

By Durim Halimi

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Joselu of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on August 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Joselu of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on August 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Newcastle are preparing for their match against Cardiff City this Saturday and they need a victory.

Newcastle are preparing for their second test of the 2018-19 Premier League campaign as they travel to Wales to face Cardiff City. After losing to Tottenham in their first match of the season last weekend, Newcastle will aim to rebound by earning three points on the road.

Most, if not all, predictions from sports media outlets have Cardiff City going back down to the EFL Championship in May, but the Bluebirds should not be underestimated. Playing at home, Cardiff City and their supporters could make life difficult for the Magpies early in the season.

Despite this only being the second match of a long season, this clash with Cardiff City is a must-win for Rafa Benitez and his men. Here are three reasons why this match is so important for Newcastle.

Difficult Schedule Ahead

Looking ahead at the next few fixtures for Newcastle, it is quite evident that the Magpies have one of the toughest early schedules in the Premier League. Five of Newcastle’s first eight matches come against the standard top six.

With that being said, it is easy to see why Newcastle need to win against Cardiff City as points will be difficult to come by. After their trip to South Wales, the Magpies’ schedule consists of the following three opponents: Chelsea (H), Manchester City (A) and Arsenal (H).

Defeat Inferior Opponents

One way for Newcastle to prove that they are worthy of finishing among the top ten is by defeating inferior opponents. With a decent team sheet and a world class manager, Newcastle have no excuses for dropping points against teams they should defeat on paper.

Cardiff City were not randomly selected to participate in the Top Flight, they earned their promotion. The Bluebirds will come out ready to fight and they will look to please their home supporters. However, Newcastle must remain composed and handle business against a weaker opponent if they wish to demonstrate their quality to the rest of the league.

Develop Consistency

Another key reason why Newcastle must win this match is for the purpose of developing consistency. Yes, it is still early in the season, but teams that develop consistency sooner rather than later are the clubs that create a comfortable cushion in the table heading into the winter.

Although Newcastle lost to Tottenham last weekend, the Magpies played good football and deserved at least a draw. Against Cardiff City, Benitez will hope his players pick up where they left off and attack without hesitation. If Newcastle can develop consistency and more team chemistry in this match, it will bode well for them against elite opponents coming up on the schedule.