Leeds to get off and running on Tyneside

Neither side with much to write home about

Both Newcastle and Leeds have got off to a torrid start this Premier League season. They sit 19th and 17th respectively and they’re both stills searching for their first win of this campaign. Marcelo Bielsa’s side certainly haven’t got going yet like many had expected them to. Draws with Everton and Burnley followed by a 0-3 drumming by Liverpool while going down to 10-men has made for a grim start. Newcastle, on the other hand, have been very…Newcastle. A point at home to Southampton is the only glimmer of hope after a pretty retched start to the season. And I can’t see it getting much better for Steve Bruce’s men.

Battle of the brittle backlines

Last weekend seemed like a write off before their match at Old Trafford even got underway. Newcastle were guests for Cristiano Ronaldo’s homecoming party, in which he bagged a brace in a 4-1 win for the Red Devils. It’s a result that wasn’t exactly surprising, given the general low level of talent amongst the squad. Players like the ever-entertaining Allan Saint-Maximin and goalscoring Callum Wilson are bright spots in a largely sub-par squad. Couple this with a poor run of results, and Leeds should be licking their lips at the prospect of getting their first three points of the season. With the hosts likely to be missing frontman Callum Wilson, Newcastle’s attack will be blunted even further. Despite this, they should take solace from Leeds’ typically kamikaze defending. Only the hosts have conceded more goals than Leeds this season, so weak defences will be the story of Friday night as supposed to free-flowing attacking football I’m sure. With the much-storied Pascal Struijk facing his suspension after receiving a straight red card for his challenge on Harvey Elliott of Liverpool last weekend, Bielsa will be shorthanded at centre back.

Leeds to take the three points

A match which both sides feel like they must get something from could see the spoils shared, as is so often the case in these sorts of games. But, despite their shaky start, I fancy Leeds to get their season off and running on Friday and see off the Magpies in their own backyard. But it won’t be plain sailing, and despite missing Callum Wilson, Steve Bruce’s men often find a way to grab a goal in most games, even ones they lose quite heavily in.

The battle of shoddy defending sets up an intriguing tie on Friday night, but one I can see the visitors coming away from with a win. That’s why I’m going with Leeds to win and BTTS with bet365.

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