Newcastle United have won three matches in a row and they should be favorites against West Ham on Saturday.
Newcastle United have extended their winning streak to three matches after defeating Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday. Newcastle will now turn their attention to West Ham as the Magpies aim to win their fourth consecutive match. The Hammers are traveling to Tyneside at the worst possible time as they will be underdogs against the in-form Magpies.
In terms of points, quality and managerial experience, there is not much to split Newcastle and West Ham on paper, however, mentality and momentum will influence Saturday’s outcome. Newcastle’s winning streak will eventually be snapped, but here are some reasons explaining why the streak will continue this weekend.
Inconsistent West Ham
West Ham has quality players and they can beat most teams on a good day, however, they are also capable of suffering embarrassing defeats. The Hammers’ inconsistency in the first 13 matches of the season makes them an unpredictable side, which can be good at times, but it also shows that they can be vulnerable.
For example, the London-based club has earned impressive results against Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United, but they have also lost to Wolverhampton, Brighton and drew with Huddersfield Town. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that West Ham have been blown out by a score of 4-0 on two occasions. It will be interesting to see which West Ham shows up against Newcastle on Saturday.
Confident Newcastle
Newcastle may be level on points with West Ham, but that is not a true reflection of both teams’ current form. Rafa Benitez’s men had a rough start to the season, but now they are showing that they belong in the middle of the pack after defeating Watford (1-0), Bournemouth (2-1) and Burnley (2-1).
What’s more impressive about this current run of form is the fact that Newcastle are winning at home and on the road. It took the Magpies a while to develop proper team chemistry, but Ki Sung-yueng, Salomon Rondon and Fabian Schar have stepped up in a major way. Not only are Newcastle winning crucial games, they are winning without Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey.
St. James’ Park
Playing at St. James’ Park will provide an even greater boost for Newcastle as they aim to claim 12 consecutive points. While I consider Newcastle to be favorites in this mid-table clash, West Ham will not be a walkover for the Magpies. However, the Toon Army will create a loud and intimidating environment for the opposition.
Furthermore, West Ham only has one away win this season, which came against Everton in September, and they have struggled on the road against Liverpool, Arsenal, Brighton, Leicester City and Huddersfield Town. St. James’ Park will certainly present West Ham with a new challenge and Newcastle’s supporters will serve as a vocal 12th man.