Cardiff vs Newcastle: Preview and Prediction

Cardiff vs Newcastle United
England – The Championship
Date: Friday, 28th, April 2017
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff City host Newcastle in the opening game of round 45 of the English Championship. Newcastle take the trip to Wales trying to preserve their title chances.

Cardiff have secured their place in the English Championship for another season. They are comfortably sitting on 13th place too far away from both the relegation and the play-off zones.

The Welshmen proved to be a tough nut to crack in recent games and will not give any free gifts away. They took a point from relegation candidate Wigan and won over another relegation candidate Nottingham Forest. At home, the team is unbeaten in 6 games picking 4 wins along the way. They failed to score only once at home in their 11 games in front of their fans.

Newcastle were top of the table before recent drop in form. Currently they occupy 2nd place 4 points behind Brighton with 4 more games to play. Not the best chances for a title but Newcastle needs to put some pressure on Brighton.

The Magpies returned to winning ways last game with a comfortable home victory against Preston. Two goals from Ayoze Perez and a red card from Preston’s Paul Gallagher ensured the 4-1 victory. Away from home though, the Magpies are winless in 4 games. Overall the team is the best in the league in terms of away record. So, despite the recent slump in form, Rafa will be hoping on a good result this Friday.

Cardiff vs Newcastle United: Head to head

• Newcastle are superior to Cardiff in terms of head to head meetings. 5 wins for the Magpies with only 2 for Cardiff and no draws.
• The Magpies snatched a narrow win when these sides met earlier this season by a 2-1 margin.
• Cardiff has won 1 and lost 2 games in their home against Newcastle. The win though is in a friendly game in 2012.
• Newcastle scored in every single game between the teams. Cardiff has done it in 5 games.

Cardiff vs Newcastle United: Prediction

Cardiff are a strong home team with nothing left to play. But they are locking horns with the best away team in the league whose title credentials are at stake. Motivation here will be a key factor. If Cardiff can keep their motivation levels up they have a chance for a good result. Still Newcastle are the better team and they have one eye on a bigger prize to play for.

With these team’s recent records, form and head to head clashes we wouldn’t be surprised if both find the net.