West Bromwich Albion’s bid to follow up last weekend’s thumping 4-1 win at Everton could be determined by the outcome of fitness tests on several key players ahead of Newcastle’s visit to the Hawthorns (Albion 5/4 To Win) at 1.30pm on Sunday lunchtime.
The Baggies will be smarting from crashing out of the Carling Cup quarter-finals at Championship side Ipswich in midweek, while the shock win at Goodison Park made it four points from a possible run in what had been a sticky patch for Roberto Di Matteo’s side.
And the Italian will hope top scorer Peter Odemwingie will be fit to feature as he looks to add to his four league goals so far this term.
Chris Brunt, James Morrison, Paul Scharner and Nicky Shorey are also battling to be fit for the game and their involvement could make all the difference given that Youssouf Mulumbu will serve the second game of a two-match ban after his sending-off at Everton.
Newcastle arrive on the back of a creditable 1-1 home draw against reigning champions Chelsea last Sunday and they have the omens on their side given that they have not lost to West Brom in 17 league games.
The Magpies (11/5 Away Win) did the double over Albion in the previous two seasons they met in the Premier League and they will be boosted by the return of Joey Barton from a three-match ban.
However, captain Kevin Nolan is still out with an ankle problem, while Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson both serve the second game of their three-match bans.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the Championship campaign and that looks a good bet at (11/2 Correct Score) for Sunday.
Newcastle’s north-east rivals Sunderland feature in Sunday’s later game at 4pm and they will look to get back to winning ways against struggling West Ham at the Stadium of Light (4/5 Sunderland Home Win).
The Black Cats produced a magnificent 3-0 win at Chelsea on November 14, but have since been held at home by Everton before losing out 3-2 at lowly Wolves a week ago.
However, boosted by John Mensah’s declaration of fitness, boss Steve Bruce will be hoping his side can maintain their unbeaten home run in the Premier League with a good result.
Despite currently occupying bottom spot, Avram Grant’s Hammers (10/3 Away Win) will be no pushovers as they arrive on Wearside on the back of two impressive results.
A 3-1 home league win against Wigan last Saturday was followed up by a 4-0 battering of holders Manchester United in the Carling cup quarter-finals at Upton Park on Tuesday.
With Scott Parker set to play on, despite a chest infection, the Hammers will hope to emulate their Carling Cup win at the same venue earlier in the season, while keeping up their record of scoring against Sunderland in every one of their last 15 head-to-heads (5/6 Both Teams To Score).
It is 12/1 for a repeat of last season’s 2-2 draw, but Sunderland’s strong home form should be just enough to edge them to a first win against the Hammers since March 2008.
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