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Michael Owen thinks history will be made when Newcastle United meet Manchester City

5 years ago
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Michael Owen has been previewing the visit of Manchester City to St James Park on Tuesday night.

Pep Guardiola’s team have won their last eight games (all competitions) and in the process scored 33 goals. Not a bad month’s work.

Michael Owen describes the 3-0 victory over Cardiff as ‘cracking’, it was certainly a win that was essential, as otherwise it would have meant Newcastle four points adrift of safety with Man City to play next.

There can’t be many fixtures in world football that are so one-sided in recent times, Owen pointing out that Newcastle haven’t won any of their last 22 Premier League matches (home and away) against Tuesday’s visitors.

That run actually includes three draws and a massive 19 wins for Man City, with indeed the last 16 meetings showing 15 wins for them.

Pep Guardiola said on Monday afternoon that recent games against Newcastle had been tough. Which up to a small point they have been, Rafa keeping Newcastle in the games at least until the final stages.

His personal record is played four, drawn one and lost three, that 1-1 draw in the relegation season followed by defeats of 1-0, 3-1 and 2-1.

You would be lucky to find anybody predicting anything but an away win, including/especially Newcastle fans.

Jose Mourinho held the record for most (73) wins in his first 100 Premier League games, when with Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola stands on 73 from his first 99.

It would be nice to feel some enthusiasm/hope for a positive Newcastle result but there is definitely a feeling of get this game out of the way and move on.

Five years ago Newcastle sprung a massive surprise when winning 2-0 away at Man City in the League Cup, the opening nine minutes seeing Newcastle find a goal from Rolando Aarons and David Silva forced off injured.

Little doubt that this current Man City team is far far superior to that one but if Newcastle United can find a goal and see the odd other factor go in their favour, just maybe…

Back in the real world, Michael Owen is shy of reminding us that it was actually he who scored the only goal when Newcastle last beat Man City in the Premier League, the 24 September 2005 seeing a 1-0 win at St James Park.

That was less than four weeks after Newcastle created their still standing transfer fee record, for a certain Michael Owen.

Sadly, I think there is more chance of Rafa’s players taking Manchester City apart, than there is of beating that 14 year old transfer record this month.

Michael Owen predicts an easy Man City win with the visitors leading at half-time and full-time, meaning also a prediction that Pep Guardiola creates that new record of 74 wins in his opening 100 PL games.

Michael Owen talking to BetVictor:

“A cracking win for United at home to Cardiff last weekend.

“But they are likely to find champions City a much different proposition back at St James Park.

“The Magpies are without a win in their last 22 PL games against City and it is hard to see them bucking that trend with the champions in such good form at present.

“One for the statisticians – this will be Pep Guardiola’s 100th PL game in charge of City – they have won 73 of the previous 99 games.

“The record for PL wins in their opening 100 games currently stands at 73 with Jose Mourinho equal with City’s Spanish manager.

“I feel it will be a record-breaking PL midweek for the managers of both Manchester giants.

“Tip: City to lead at halftime/ and fulltime at 4/6.”

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