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Michael Owen delivers double positive to Steve Bruce

3 years ago
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Michael Owen has come to Steve Bruce’s rescue.

The former Liverpool striker delivering double good news to the under pressure Newcastle United Head Coach.

Michael Owen insisting that Bruce will lead Newcastle out of the relegation zone tonight.

Owen making two key predictions as to what is going to happen.

The one-time Newcastle United striker / shirker insisting that Bruce’s side will win AND keep a clean sheet against Leeds on Friday night.

To put this into perspective…

In 2021, Newcastle United have only kept one clean sheet at home in the Premier League. That was against already relegated Sheffield United, when NUFC won 1-0 in May this year. Before that you have to go back to December 2020 and the 0-0 with Liverpool.

As for winning at home in the Premier League in 2021, that has only happened three times these past nine months for Newcastle United. That Sheffield United match and the games against West Ham (3-2 after the Hammers had gifted a 2-0 lead and a man advantage due to a red card) and Southampton (also 3-2, the Saints gifting three first half goals to NUFC).

Michael Owen points to Leeds struggling for goals this season but it was only Liverpool last weekend that they have failed to score in. Bielsa’s team haven’t been great but they have played three of the current top four in the Premier League and only lost so far to Man Utd and Liverpool.

Last season, Leeds repeatedly punished clubs outside the ‘elite’ with full on attacking football. The two matches between the two clubs (Leeds and Newcastle) perfectly summed up the respective seasons, Leeds winning both and scoring seven goals in the process.

As well as exciting Bielsa football compared to woeful boring and negative Bruce tactics, Leeds picked up 14 points more than Newcastle, Leeds scored 16 more goals, plus conceding eight less than NUFC.

Only once since 8 March 2021 have Leeds failed to score in a Premier League away match and I find it very difficult to believe that will change tonight, nor do I think Michael Owen has much chance of success with his Newcastle 1 Leeds 0 prediction.

Newcastle’s defending gets ever worse under Steve Bruce, from conceding 47 and 48 goals in Rafa’s two Premier League seasons, to 58 and 62 goals leaked these past two with Bruce. With 12 already conceded at an average of three per match, I’d be amazed if Leeds fail to score against Newcastle.

I reckon Steve Bruce’s team will need to score at least twice to stand any chance of a win, maybe / probably more than that in reality.

With Callum Wilson out injured for the foreseeable, Newcastle desperately need alternative goalscorers.

Hopefully somebody will step up tonight, as well as everybody stepping up when it comes to sorting out the horrific defensive stats at NUFC.

Michael Owen speaking to BetVictor:

“Newcastle have had a difficult start to the season but some of their performances have been good.

“I thought they were a little unfortunate last week at Old Trafford but Steve Bruce must be concerned with the number of goals they are letting in.

“Speaking of letting in too many goals, Leeds have the same problem.

“I think more worryingly for Bielsa will be that they aren’t scoring as many goals as they did last season.

“We all know how Leeds like to play but if they aren’t scoring lots of goals they are going to struggle.

I’m sure St James Park will be rocking for this game.

“This is a huge game for both sides as they look to kickstart their seasons.

“I fancy Newcastle to narrowly edge it 1-0.”

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