
Up to date Newcastle v Chelsea odds with the away side attracting plenty of attention with punters in the betting at 8/13.
You couldn’t pick two clubs in more different moods than Newcastle United and Chelsea who get the weekend’s Premier League action underway on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho’s side proved themselves as the team to beat in this season’s title race with a Fernando Torres (and Joe Hart) inspired win over Manchester City last weekend and the Blues will be looking to further stamp their authority with a win over a rudderless Magpies team.
Special One’s confidence in his team is growing and after Tuesday’s win over Arsenal he may begin to free up his attacking players for periods of the game if Torres can continue the form he has started to show since last week’s Champions League tie with Schalke as Chelsea look to improve on their record of taking 13 of the last 15 available points. .
Against Newcastle the Spaniard will be without the often formidable opponent of Fabio Coloccini while defenders Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara joined Stephen Taylor on the treatment table when they went off injured in the Magpies 2-0 loss to Man City on Wednesday adding to a tough time for Alan Pardew on and off the pitch.
With a buoyant Chelsea on the way it is unlikely Newcastle’s record of 16 goals conceded, behind only Crystal Palace and Sunderland, will be improved upon on Saturday.
Pardew has not been helped by owner Mike Ashley’s decision to band local media from the club and after last week’s 2-1 loss to Sunderland the manager could have done without the extra level of scrutiny that will be placed on the team by fans.
The manager’s problems are not just from outside of his control though as he has guided the team to only one win in five league games since the start of October and with trips to Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea and Manchester United to come in the next run of games it’s starting to look like a long year for Newcastle.
That said, his team performed valiantly against superior quality on Sunday and did the same against Liverpool in the 2-2 draw a fortnight ago but it remains to be seen if the quality of players such as Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye can make the difference in such a faltering team.