For the fifth time this season, and potentially not even the last time, Newcastle United face Manchester City: this time, in the FA Cup.
After beating Man City in the Premier League back in November, we’ve endured three straight losses to Pep Guardiola’s side, including both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
But off the back of our huge win against Manchester United midweek, coupled with home advantage on Saturday night, then Eddie Howe and the lads may be quietly confident of causing an upset.
And they won’t be the only ones thinking that. Just ask former Premier League striker Chris Sutton…
Writing for BBC Sport ahead of tonight’s 8pm kick-off, Chris Sutton suggested that a lot of fans and pundits were underestimating our chances in the tie – and Eddie Howe’s ability to turn things around on Tyneside.
With a lot of bad luck having come our way in terms of late goals, injuries and cup draws, to have come as far as we’ve got in all four major competitions we’re in is a big achievement in itself.
“This is a big week for both teams. In the Champions League, Newcastle have got Barcelona at home on Tuesday, and City are at Real Madrid the following day. That’s exactly what you want at this stage of the season, though.
“We keep getting callers on 606 saying it’s not been a great campaign for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, but they are in the Champions League last 16, got to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and are still in the FA Cup too.
“The Premier League hasn’t gone as well as it should have done, but there are reasons for that, starting with the Alexander Isak saga last summer.”
Whilst Eddie Howe may not boast the best record against Pep Guardiola, we’ve shown we can go toe-to-toe with last season’s runners up on multiple occasions over the years.
And Sutton believes that for just the third time in his managerial career, Howe will get a win over the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
“Sometimes managers are taken for granted, and if they are in the job for any period, then some people will say, ‘oh we need a change’. I think most people understand what a great job Howe has actually done, including most Newcastle supporters.
“I am going for them to win this, too. They have already beaten one Manchester team this week, and that was with 10 men – so they can win this tie with 11.
“Pep Guardiola’s side have won three out of the four games with Newcastle this season, but I am going with the same scoreline from the time they didn’t, in the Premier League at St James’ Park.”
Sutton’s prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Man City
On paper, we’re at a serious disadvantage against the Cityzens: while we’re still without Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento, Josko Gvardiol is the sole ‘big’ player that Pep won’t be able to call on.
Nico O’Reilly, who grabbed a brace in our league game last month, is set to make his return to the squad on Saturday night. Meanwhile, we may be able to account for Nick Woltemade’s inclusion pending his recovery from illness.
So whilst City’s squad depth will give them a certain edge, their games either side of our clash will have an impact. Letting two leads slip against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad was bad enough, but Pep Guardiola will have one eye on the first leg of their Champions League game against Real Madrid next week, and may rest some of his stars for that huge clash at the Bernabeu.
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