Premier League: Eddie Howe's Newcastle take impressive form to Stamford Bridge

Tough week for the Blues 

Chelsea host Newcastle on Sunday in their first home match since off-field events stunned the club.

With the UK government placing sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich, the Blues find themselves bereft of almost all their income streams and facing an uncertain future. 

Nevertheless, they are 1.35 favourites to overcome the rapidly improving Magpies at Stamford Bridge, with the guests an 11 shot to win. The draw is on offer at 5.5.

Chelsea seek home comfort

If there were any concerns about how the Chelsea players may react to the peril the club finds itself in, these were surely allayed on Thursday, when they romped to a 3-1 win away to Norwich. Trevoh Chalobah, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz were all on target during that encounter. 

It was a third successive away win for the Blues, who have made easy pickings of Luton, Burnley and Norwich in recent games, having suffered the disappointment of losing to Liverpool in the League Cup final after a marathon penalty shootout.

Remarkably, this will be Chelsea’s first home league match since they beat Tottenham 2-0 on January 23, and given the support Abramovich still apparently has from the Blues fans in general, Stamford Bridge will surely be rocking for this encounter. 

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will be looking for a fourth straight win since their EFL Cup final defeat at Wembley

Magpies have found form

Newcastle, meanwhile, have set about securing their place in the Premier League next season in impressive fashion. Many pundits expected them to kick on following the January transfer window, and that is exactly what Eddie Howe’s side have done.

The Magpies have won six of their last seven matches and are no longer even in the relegation conversation. The latest of these victories came against Southampton on Thursday, ending the Saints' 10-match unbeaten home run, with new signings Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes on target. 

While Newcastle’s run has been impressive, their wins have come exclusively against teams in the lower half of the table. Chelsea, clearly, represent a far greater challenge. 

Newcastle undervalued

While Chelsea are likely to get the win, their short price is probably a little unrepresentative of Newcastle’s strong recent form. After all, the Magpies do have recent draws against Manchester United and West Ham under their belt. 

Additionally, Chelsea have only won six of their 12 home Premier League matches this season, which is a far from stellar record. Historically, though, this is a fixture the Blues dominate; they have won the last nine between these clubs at Stamford Bridge.

The handicap markets offer better value. Certainly, Newcastle +2 on the Asian Handicap looks a strong bet. The Magpies would have to lose by three goals in order for no money to be returned in that case – and that has not happened in any of their last four trips to Stamford Bridge, all of which have been undertaken with worse teams than this. 

More daring punters may be willing to stake on Newcastle +1.5 at 1.83, but the odds on +2 look a safer bet. 

Recommended bet

Newcastle with +2 Asian Handicap @ 1.44