BBC Sport pundit with Newcastle United analysis – Correct outcome but strange reasoning | OneFootball

Some interesting comments from this BBC Sport pundit on Newcastle United.

Chris Sutton speaking ahead of Sunday’s game down on the south coast.

Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players looking to follow up that opening day victory against Southampton.

Whilst Bournemouth grabbed an 86th minute equaliser to get a late point at Forest in their first match.

Chris Sutton talking to BBC Sport – 22 August 2024:

“The Eddie Howe Derby.

“It will be interesting to see if Evanilson plays for Bournemouth, they have spent £40.2m on him.

“Newcastle huffed and puffed and found a way last week at home against Southampton and Bournemouth drew at Forest, they probably will feel they should have won the game.

“Based on last week, I would err towards Bournemouth but I am a big fan of Newcastle forward Alexander Isak and I think boss Eddie Howe will return to his old club and win it.

“Prediction: Bournemouth 1 Newcastle 2”

I am not going to be disagreeing with this BBC Sport pundit on his predicted outcome of Sunday’s match.

However, it is pretty strange reasoning from Chris Sutton, as to how he got to that forecasted scoreline.

Bournemouth were actually lucky to get even a point at Forest having trailed for most of the match to a Chris Wood goal.

Whilst I haven’t often heard winning with 10 men described as having ‘huffed and puffed’ to achieve it. At St James’ Park, 101 minutes were played in total and for 73 of those minutes Newcastle had a man less than Southampton. To then keep a clean sheet, restrict Southampton to only five efforts on target and of those only one big save Nick Pope had to make, then also win the game… I think magnificent would be my description of such a win against the odds.

Eddie Howe got his tactics exactly right after Diaz cheated to get Schar sent off and the Newcastle players carried that plan out superbly.

In no way do I think this is an easy match but I don’t think you can underestimate at all just what a massive loss Solanke is for Bournemouth. Eddie Howe paid £19m for him back in 2019 and now he has gone to Spurs for £65m, he was not only their best and most dangerous player, Solanke was also the one who all their play was directed towards in attack.

I don’t know much about Evanilson but I guess he is decent at £40m+. However, to throw him straight in after signing, would be a massive gamble.

I’m confident and predict, like the BBC Sport man, that Newcastle United will get the win. I think it will come via us seeing a far more dangerous NUFC than was in evidence last weekend, with indeed, Alexander Isak set to prove the main man for Newcastle, as Chris Sutton predicts.

Newcastle United schedule to end of October 2024:

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 26 August 2024 – Forest v Newcastle in the Carabao Cup (8pm) Sky Sports

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)

Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3 pm)

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man City (12.30 pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5pm) Sky Sports