Odds suggest Newcastle are choking on Championship pressure
Published:
Just a fortnight ago you could have got 1/8 on Newcastle winning the Championship this season, but today the Magpies have drifted to 4/11. They may still be favourites, but are they starting to feel the heat?
The Toon Army have done well thus far to rise above the enormous expectation and pressure placed upon them, as such heavy favourites to go up this season.
But with eight games to go there is a real chance that the Magpies may not win the league, and could even be dumped into the play-offs.
A 0-0 draw with Birmingham City last weekend made it three games without a win for Rafa Benitez’s charges, picking up just two points in that spell.
Luckily for them, both Brighton and Huddersfield lost.
That may be only a temporary blessing however, for Newcastle sit only 13th in the form table across the last six games.
And the Seagulls remain just a point behind at the top of the standings, while the Terriers can move to within four points should they win their game in hand.
Back when Newcastle were 1/8 on to win the league, Chris Hughton’s men were out at 5/1.
Today that price is just 9/4.
Huddersfield are the outsiders, but some will fancy them at 18/1, having been as big as 125s earlier this season.
We are less than two months away from the end of the season, and many would have assumed Newcastle would have one foot in the Premier League by this stage.
But with eight games to go – including games versus play-off chasing Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday – Newcastle’s season arguably starts now.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
