Newcastle United’s FA Cup dreams for this year are on the line against Manchester City on Saturday night, and Chris Sutton is not expecting the Toon Army to be celebrating come full time.
As is typical with Newcastle United this season, they got the hardest draw possible. Their reward for beating Blackburn Rovers in the previous round was an away trip to FA Cup holders Manchester City.
Eddie Howe takes his team to a ground that they have only ever won once at. That was back in 2014, when Alan Pardew was manager.
Newcastle have an appalling record away to Man City, and it is a record that feels likely to get even worse on Saturday night.
Paul Merson has already predicted that the Magpies will be knocked out of the FA Cup this weekend, and that feeling is shared by Chris Sutton.
Chris Sutton thinks Manchester City will beat Newcastle United
Sutton has provided his predictions for BBC Sport, and has backed Man City to beat Newcastle 3-1.
“Liverpool gave Manchester City a bit of a going over at times in the second half at Anfield last weekend – but I just don’t see Newcastle doing the same to them at the Etihad,” he said.
“Pep Guardiola always goes strong in the FA Cup and, even with Kevin de Bruyne out injured, City will be hard to stop. I am expecting to see Erling Haaland back on the scoresheet after he bagged five against Luton in the last round.
City are my tip to go and win the FA Cup again this year. They won’t do another treble though.”
Sutton added: “Alexander Isak has got a goal in him for Newcastle, but their problem is going to be at the other end – there is no way you would back them to keep a clean sheet against City.”
Newcastle will be up against it in the FA Cup
Toon fans are understandably fearful ahead of facing Manchester City. They are the best team in the world, while we are nowhere near our best at the moment. That was evident on Monday night as we struggled against Chelsea.
The FA Cup is massive for the Magpies this season. It is the only thing we can really cling on to at the moment, given our Premier League struggles.
But we have been handed the toughest draw possible, and the odds are stacked against us.
Defensively, we are not good enough to stop a team like Manchester City right now. That is a major concern, although they will be without Kevin De Bruyne due to injury.
As for Newcastle, Eddie Howe will be hoping that Anthony Gordon is fit enough to start at the Etihad Stadium after it was determined that his knee injury is not serious.
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