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Michael Owen predicts Norwich v Newcastle United after 25 years without a win

5 years ago
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Michael Owen has been looking forward to Saturday’s match in Norfolk.

Not only is Norwich a pain to get to as a fan, it has proved even more painful when watching NUFC there in recent times.

It is over 25 years since the Magpies defeated the Canaries away from home.

Names to bring the memories flooding back, Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley got the goals in January 1994 as Keegan led his team to third in the Premier League.

The visit before that was five years earlier, a 2-0 win for Newcastle, Mirandinha and Liam (Mackem slayer) O’Brien getting the goals. Memories…

Michael Owen thinks Norwich ‘played some lovely football’ on Friday but were ‘naive defensively’ in their 4-1 defeat at Anfield.

It very much reflects last season, Norwich going up as champions scoring 93 goals but conceding 57, only the eighth best defensive record in the second tier.

On the other hand Michael Owen praises Newcastle for keeping ‘Arsenal at arm’s length’ for most of Sunday’s match, saying Steve Bruce will be ‘ruing one moment of madness’ that gifted the goal.

It was a very weak Arsenal side with a dozen or so players ruled out and a worry that Leno didn’t have a single serious save to make.

With Norwich willing to go for it, Newcastle can’t afford to sit back as much, as it is likely to be a game of who can score the most, rather than goalless or just a single goal.

Michael Owen predicts a draw and indeed three of the last four have been drawn, the last one in the Championship as Rafa led NUFC up as champions.

With options to counter-attack I really hope Steve Bruce goes with Allan Saint-Maximin alongside Almiron and Joelinton.

With those three I would have confidence that Newcastle can score goals AND outscore Norwich.

This could prove a key game so early in the season, with two of Newcastle’s next three matches away at Spurs and Liverpool.

Michael Owen speaking to Betvictor:

“Norwich played some lovely football at times against Liverpool on Friday.

“But they were naive defensively – although the good news for Daniel Farke is that his side won’t face teams with the flair and pace of the Reds every week.

The Canaries will make plenty of friends with their style of football this season, but I think they will have to settle for a point against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Magpies kept Arsenal at arm’s length for much of their game at St James’ Park on Sunday.

“But they will still be ruing one moment of defensive madness which allowed the Gunners to take all three points.

“Tip: Game to finish in a draw 12/5.”

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