Lee Dixon: Newcastle to inch towards safety with Saturday stalemate against Liverpool

"Like Newcastle, Liverpool sit below their local rivals in the table and it's hard to see how Brendan Rodgers is going to motivate his men for the final four games.

Back the draw @ 3.613/5 

Liverpool go to St James' Park without their talisman and Newcastle have a good chance of securing the points they need for survival - but will a faltering Toon produce a winning performance?

The threat of relegation continues to haunt Newcastle - from a distance admittedly - but they have a big chance to banish those fears for good on Saturday evening against a Liverpool side lacking their talisman, Luis Suarez.

Any team would miss a 30-goal striker, but Suarez has made so many vital interventions in Liverpool's season that they will be significantly weakened by his absence. The furore over Suarez's actions at Anfield last Sunday and the accompanying reaction from the club threatens to overshadow the entire season. For me, Liverpool must take the punishment and move on. Ten games is an entirely appropriate penalty for what was a piece of utterly outrageous behaviour which has no place in the game. 

The most amazing thing for me was how Branislav Ivanovic took it without retaliating. I think the surprise took him more than anything. If it had happened against Martin Keown I doubt Suarez would have been around to score a 96th minute equaliser anyway!
So will Newcastle take advantage of an under strength Liverpool? Doubtful, I'm afraid. 

The Toon's home record isn't particularly special, having suffered seven league defeats at St James's Park this season, while current form is nothing to write home about either with seven points from the last 18 available. Alan Pardew's men looked nervous at WBA last time out despite taking the lead and they need to conquer that during the run-in.  

Going deep in the Europa League clearly affected Newcastle this season and the absence of midweek games will surely help on the closing stretch. With six points between the Toon and 18th placed Wigan (though the Latics have a game in hand) I ultimately expect Pardew to lead his team to safety, but they will want to get to 40 points as soon as possible. Nevertheless, odds of 23.022/1 are a true representation of Newcastle's relegation chances. 

Liverpool's season is fading to an inglorious end - three draws in recent weeks have taken the wind out of their sails and has as good as finished their unlikely dream of a top four finish. Like Newcastle they sit below their local rivals in the table and it's hard to see how Brendan Rodgers is going to motivate his men for the final four games.

Strangely enough they might find some encouragement upfront where goalscoring responsibilities will fall on Daniel Sturridge. The England man must use the next few games to send Rodgers a clear message about his claims for a first XI role next season. I do like Sturridge, but he is inconsistent. Liverpool will hope he shows his best during the run-in. 

Though Newcastle are not in a great state, I don't foresee Sturridge - or any of his team-mates - scoring a winner at St James'. I really don't see much between these two outfits and I fancy a draw on Saturday, and not a particularly entertaining one at that. A goal apiece looks the likely scoreline but I'll play it safe by restricting my bet to the match odds market. 

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Back the draw @ 3.613/5 

Prior to the shocking display against Sunderland, Newcastle had won their previous four at St James' and were looking like they would be safe for another season. However, as Lee says a nervy away draw at WBA and Newcastle are right in this relegation battle. With only one away win this season and their last home game against Arsenal on the final day of the season they must be looking to take something out of this game.

Without Luis Suarez this could be a good time to be facing the Reds, but Liverpool are resilient, suffering only one defeat in their last eight (away Southampton), their last three games all ended as draws. I think Newcastle will get something out of this game and I will be backing them with a bit of safety in the DRAW NO BET market at around 2.2.

As Lee mentions, without Luis Suarez, the goalscoring burden will fall on Daniel Sturridge, who was impressive against both Reading and Chelsea in Liverpool’s previous two fixtures. But so much of his good play has been because of fantastic interplay with Suarez – and without that link-up play, I’m not convinced he’ll be a significant goalscoring threat. I can see Liverpool dominating without penetrating, and I like the look of under 2.5 goals at 2.04.

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Championship Betting: Back Wolves for safety and Blackburn for the drop

"If Blackburn are going to ensure their Championship safety tonight’s game against Millwall seems like a real make-or-break point in their season."

Back Blackburn to be relegated at 6.611/2

Callum Davis takes a look at the Championship relegation battle ahead of Blackburn's trip to Millwall tonight - a game that could prove pivotal to Rovers' survival hopes...

Even by the Championship's usual standards of tense competition, this season has been one of the most closely contested for many years. Although the second automatic promotion spot and playoff positions are far from being decided, it is at the bottom of the table where the most enthralling drama looks set to unfold. 

A mere five points separate Barnsley in 23rd from Ipswich in 15th and all the teams in between have the genuine threat of relegation to League One hanging over them as we approach the final two weeks of the season. As predictions go, this one is exceptionally hard to call and the cluster of clubs sitting so closely together above the relegation zone means that the outcome could conceivably come down to goal difference on the last day.

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, momentum in the Championship at this stage of the season has previously proven to be the key to the success or demise of any club hoping to avoid relegation or gain promotion, and this year will be no different. Reading's late acceleration into the automatic promotion spots last season was largely due to their extraordinary run of victories late in the campaign, while Bolton's latest surge up the table into the playoffs is another example of the effect a good run of form can have in such a closely congested table as the Championship. You only have to look at Crystal Palace's abysmal run which has seen them go from challengers for automatic promotion to a team who are clinging on to a place in the playoffs after no wins in six to see how damaging a dip in form can be.

While Bolton have found some stability since relegation and genuine form under Dougie Freedman, the two other relegated sides from last season, Wolves and Bolton, have found themselves facing the prospect of the dreaded double drop. Although Wolves currently reside in the relegation zone in 21st, it is Blackburn's current demise which is looking more critical. Ahead of tonight's visit to The Den, Blackburn sit just two points above the drop on the back of five losses from six away games and on the precipice of losing their Championship status.

Blackburn's season has been punctuated by a series of farcical managerial dismissals which has turned the Rovers from much fancied pre-season promotion candidates to a team in free-fall with a fundamental crisis of leadership.

If Blackburn are going to ensure their Championship safety tonight's game against Millwall seems like a real make-or-break point in their season. With remaining fixtures against Crystal Palace at home and Birmingham away on the last game of the season, Rovers fans will feel uneasy with the prospect of needing to get a result in one of those two games to ensure safety. Millwall are unbeaten in three against Blackburn and have kept clean sheets in each of those games, and despite Millwall's indifferent home record of late I'm unconvinced that Blackburn will be able get the result they need to distance themselves from getting drawn into the relegation places on the final day of the season. 

With that in mind, and given Blackburn's form and tricky run in, 6.611/2 for Blackburn to be relegated looks like the best value in the relegation market. If they come away from south London without a result that price should begin to shorten as Palace and Birmingham beckon.

Although the pressure is firmly on Wolves manager Dean Saunders to rescue the failing Midlanders, I'd be backing them to carry on their recent peak in form (ten points from their last six) to finish the season strongly and avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth, leaving Blackburn fans with the prospect of an uncertain future in the third tier of English football.

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Lay Wolves to be relegated at 2.0421/20
Back Blackburn to be relegated at 6.611/2

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Premier League: Blackburn edging ever closer to safety

Premier League / Richard / 21 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Junior Hoilett has scored three goals in his last two outings for the club

"Prior to their 2-0 success at Molineux, Blackburn had conceded in each of their 27 league fixtures this season."

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Rovers' 2-0 win over Sunderland last night saw them record back-to-back league victories for the first time since November 2010. More importantly, the result lifts them a massive six points clear of the bottom three, though Bolton and QPR both have a game in hand. Their dramatic revival now sees them at [6.4] to be relegated come May.

Though winning is all important, successive clean sheets are a similarly noteworthy feat. Prior to their 2-0 success at Molineux, Blackburn had conceded in each of their 27 league fixtures this season. It's now over four hours of football since Blackburn's defence was last breached and that alone should stand them in good stead for the run-in.

Next up for Blackburn is a trip to Bolton, in what would inevitably be a difficult afternoon for all concerned. Though it remains undecided whether the game will go ahead, should the fixture get the green light, Rovers will fancy their chances of a third straight win. Only Wigan have taken fewer points than Bolton at home and Blackburn have lost just one of their last 11 league visits to the Reebok Stadium. Rovers are currently [3.15] to make it three wins on the spin against the Trotters.

As for their final nine games, it's something of a mixed bag for Kean's side. Blackburn are still to entertain Manchester United and Liverpool at Ewood Park, and face both Tottenham and Chelsea in the capital. If those four make grim reading, Rovers also play West Brom, Swansea, Wigan and Norwich before the season's end, so there are no shortage of opportunities to pick up points.

In truth, Blackburn may only need one more win to ensure their place in next season's Premier League. In 2009/10, just 31 points would have proved enough to guarantee survival and the current form of the bottom three makes a similar tally this year highly possible. What's more, their goal difference is at least eight goals better than three of the four sides below them.

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