Newcastle United’s visit to Coventry City will provide a ‘great opportunity’ for the Premier League newcomers - according to BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton.
The Magpies have enjoyed a solid start to the new season after new head coach Matthias Jaissle guided his side to just one defeat in their first five league games and secured a place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with wins against Championship duo West Bromwich Albion and Millwall. Jaissle’s hopes of building momentum with a win at the CBS Arena are also set to be boosted by the return of the likes of Joelinton, Nico Gonzalez and Lewis Miley and that means the United head coach has some big calls to make ahead of the game.
Manager Frank Lampard was impressed with Markelo's attitude after joining the Sky Blues last season.placeholder image
Manager Frank Lampard was impressed with Markelo's attitude after joining the Sky Blues last season. | Getty Images
By contrast, Monday night’s hosts have won just one of their first five games since since securing a long-awaited return to English football’s top as winners of last season’s Championship. Any thoughts of a Carabao Cup run came to an end with a 3-1 third round defeat at Aston Villa after Frank Lampard’s men had claimed a 4-2 win at Plymouth Argyle in the previous round.
Sutton, who was a Premier League title winner alongside Magpies legend Alan Shearer during their time at Blackburn Rovers, described Newcastle as ‘an exciting watch’ - but warned their lack of control within games this season could hand Coventry a chance to build on the 1-0 win they claimed at Nottingham Forest prior to the first international break of the campaign.
Writing in his BBC Sport predictions column, the former Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea striker said: "Newcastle are an exciting watch with the way they set about games and have so much pace in their team, but I don't think they have much control of matches.
"This feels like a great opportunity for Coventry to follow up their first win of the season with another positive result. Beating Nottingham Forest last time out was such a massive result for the Sky Blues - but can they back it up with another victory? I am not sure they will. A draw feels like the obvious result to me."
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