- Norwich sit three points ahead of Newcastle
- Canaries have kept consecutive clean sheets
- NUFC last eight PL matches: W1, L7
Carrow Road plays host to a massive six-pointer in the relegation battle as Norwich City host Newcastle United on Saturday (Watch live, 10 a.m. ET on USA and online via Live Extra).
Norwich currently sit 17th, three points ahead of 19th-place Newcastle.
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Norwich City are looking to keep their third-straight clean sheet, a surprising run for a team that was conceding loads of goals earlier in the year. However, Alex Neil’s side has turned a bit of a corner, playing some decent football and getting enough points to climb out of the relegation zone. A win on Saturday would put the Canaries over 30 points and potentially five points clear of the drop, which would be a huge boost heading into the final stretch of the season.
[ MORE: Prince-Wright’s Premier League Picks -- Week 32 ]
Rafa Benitez is still looking for his first win in charge at Newcastle, and he’s running out of time to do so. With the Magpies sitting three points below Norwich (and safety), Rafa must win on Saturday to try and keep the club up. Newcastle have to get over their road woes, as they have scored just seven goals and taken just seven points from 15 away matches this season.
What they’re saying
Norwich boss Alex Neill: “It’s one of those finely balanced games where I think looking at the table, Newcastle probably need to win the game more than us but it would be an absolutely crucial win if we could go and get it. The international break came at the wrong time for us, but hopefully we can pick up where we left off and go into the game to do the job.”
Magpies’ manager Rafa Benitez: “People say in each game we have to win and if not it will be the end. I am not convinced about that. We want to win and we are going there to win, but we have to be sure in the next seven games we are ready for winning. In the end, you can sit and do the numbers, you can say 30-something points or whatever. But the games are the games.”
Prediction
Newcastle may be the more talented side, but I see Norwich nicking a win on Saturday. The Canaries have shown heart and a willingness to fight, something lacking from Rafa’s Magpies. Norwich City 1-0 Newcastle United.