It’s all been going wrong for Newcastle United in recent weeks and they face another tough afternoon as they host in-form Leicester City looking for their first win since October. Newcastle begin the weekend in 15th place but by the time this game starts they could be a couple of places lower in the table if results go the wrong way. They are five points above the bottom three which is a major disappointment after being in the top ten for most of the season and as high as fourth at one stage.
It’s been a bit of an up and down season though as their return to the Premier League began with two successive defeats but then a run of seven without defeat. Since then it’s been a downward spiral with a run of six league games that have produced just a single point. That wasn’t easy to earn either, having to come back from 2-0 down at West Brom and rely on a Johnny Evans own goal for the equalizer.
Four of those last six league games have been away from home and Newcastle are again struggling on the road as they did in their relegation season. They are also having problems at home losing their last two and failing to score in either of them. Just four days after the visit of Leicester City, revitalised Everton come visiting and then they travel to Arsenal. They need some points soon or their new owners will be joining a club threatened with relegation.
Leicester City will provide them with a stiff task as they are up to ninth in the table after a run of seven points in their last three league games. Last week saw them get home wins over Tottenham and Burnley but it’s not just at home that they have been getting good results. Away form has been a problem for Leicester for a fair while, even at times when they won the Premier League.
City only have one away league win this season and that was at bottom of the table Swansea City. They have only lost at Arsenal, where they so nearly grabbed a point, and Manchester United. Leicester are unbeaten in their last five away Premier League games but four of those have ended in draws and all were against sides in the bottom half of the table.
Leicester have scored in eight of their last nine league and cup games but conceded in seven of them with both teams scoring in four of their last five away league matches. Mahrez may have a dodgy new hair-style but he’s back scoring goals again and if Vardy can follow suit then Leicester, who start the weekend in ninth place, could yet be challenging for a Europa League place.
Conclusion
Newcastle United are nervously looking over their shoulders at present as they get closer and closer to the relegation zone. They are on a long winless run and have some difficult fixtures coming up. Home goals have dried up and they are bidding to prevent a third straight home league defeat. Leicester are progressing well under new manager Claude Puel and those wins over two top seven sides can only breed confidence. They are unbeaten in their last five away Premier League games and are bound to cause United plenty of problems in this game and can get a second away win of the season.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Newcastle United – LDLLL
Leicester City – WWDLD
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
14/03/16 – Leicester City 1 Newcastle United 0
21/11/15 – Newcastle United 0 Leicester City 3
02/05/15 – Leicester City 3 Newcastle United 0
18/10/14 – Newcastle United 1 Leicester City 0
30/01/10 – Leicester City 0 Newcastle United 0
- Newcastle have only earned one point from their last six Premier League game.
- Newcastle United have lost their last two home Premier League games without scoring.
- Four of the last seven Newcastle United games have had under 2.5 goals scored in them.
- Leicester City are unbeaten in their last five away Premier League games but have draw four of them.
- Leicester City have scored in seven of their last nine away Premier League games.
- Both teams have scored in six of the last eight Leicester City away games.
- Newcastle United have lost their last four league and cup games against Leicester City without scoring a goal.