Newcastle United will aim to put a painful derby defeat behind them as they welcome Fulham to St James' Park for a crucial Carabao Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday evening. The match, scheduled for a 20:15 GMT kick-off and broadcast live on ITV1 and Sky Sports, offers the Magpies an immediate chance for redemption after a bruising weekend.
Seeking Redemption After Tyne-Wear Disappointment
Eddie Howe's side head into this cup clash licking their wounds following a 1-0 loss to arch-rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. Captain Bruno Guimaraes labelled the result "embarrassing and frustrating," and a swift response is demanded from the holders. The Carabao Cup holds special significance for Newcastle, having ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with their victory over Liverpool in the final last March. Online bookmakers currently price them at 11/2 to retain the trophy.
Fulham, meanwhile, arrive on Tyneside with their own ambitions. The Cottagers have never won a major domestic honour, with their best finish being runners-up in the 1975 FA Cup. Their Carabao Cup odds stand at a distant 20/1, but Marco Silva's men will be buoyed by consecutive away wins at Burnley and Tottenham. The London side have lost seven of their last twelve outings, however, suggesting vulnerability.
Team News and Tactical Set-Up
The Magpies' injury woes have deepened significantly. Defender Dan Burn joins a lengthy absentee list after suffering a broken rib and punctured lung against Sunderland, ruling him out for 4-6 weeks. He joins Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, and William Osula on the treatment table.
Fulham are also depleted, missing Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon through injury. Furthermore, the club has been hit by the Africa Cup of Nations, with Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi all away on international duty.
The predicted line-ups see Aaron Ramsdale in goal for Newcastle, with a backline of Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Malick Thiaw, and Lewis Hall. The midfield trio could be Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes, and Sandro Tonali, supporting an attack of Jacob Murphy, Yoane Wissa, and Harvey Barnes. For Fulham, Bernd Leno is expected in goal, protected by a defence of Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Jorge Cuenca, and Timothy Castagne. Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic may anchor the midfield, behind an attacking line of Harry Wilson, Josh King, and Kevin, with Raul Jimenez leading the line.
Key Betting Tips and Predictions
Given the defensive issues on both sides and the attacking talent available, a Newcastle win with Both Teams to Score (BTTS) is a compelling option at 12/5 with Boyle Sports. This has been a common theme for the Magpies, with both teams scoring in seven of their last eight matches.
All eyes will also be on Newcastle's German forward, Nick Woltemade. The £69m signing from Stuttgart had a derby to forget, scoring a decisive own goal against Sunderland. He will be desperate to make amends and has already netted seven times this season, including in the previous round against Tottenham. Backing Woltemade to score at any time is priced at 13/10 with William Hill.
The history between these sides adds intrigue. Newcastle won 2-1 when they met in the Premier League at St James' Park earlier this season, thanks to a Bruno Guimaraes stoppage-time winner. However, Fulham did the double over the Magpies last season, including a 2-1 victory in the north east.
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