Experts are undecided on which side will emerge victorious from Newcastle’s crucial Premier League clash against Brentford.
The Magpies have a golden opportunity to leapfrog their opponents on Saturday despite playing two games less, with the Bees winning just once in their last 10 outings.
Eddie Howe’s are sixth in the top-flight form table and a win would cool the temperature around St James’ Park following Burnley’s surprise win against Spurs.
ChronicleLive looks at what the experts are saying ahead of the trip to West London…
Mark Lawrenson - BBC Sport
Mark Lawrenson believes Newcastle will taste defeat against Thomas Frank’s side this weekend.
The ex-Liverpool defender has admittedly ignored recent form and thinks the advantage of a home crowd will get Brentford over the line.
In his weekly BBC column, Lawrenson wrote: “Like Leeds, Brentford are another team on the slide - they have taken only one point from their past seven games, and a resurgent Newcastle will go above them with a win on Saturday.
“On form, you'd go with the Magpies to do exactly that, but I actually think this scenario might bring a big performance out of the Bees.
“Their fans will certainly have a part to play too because this is an absolutely huge game for their season. Their collective hunger could make the difference.
“Newcastle have picked up 12 points from their past six games, more than they managed in their previous 19. As good as they've been - and they've been very good - their levels are going to drop at some point and the nature of the Premier League means, when that happens, they will probably be beaten.
Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Newcastle
FiveThirtyEight
A supercomputer also expects the Magpies’s six-game unbeaten run to end against Brentford.
FiveThirtyEight is an online calculator that uses statistical data and analysis to predict the outcome of Premier League games.
They give the Bees an overwhelming 44% chance of victory on Saturday - despite suffering terrible results of late.
An away win (28%) and the draw (27%) are both evenly poised even though Newcastle go into the clash as the in-form side.
Prediction: Brentford win
SportsMole
Football experts SportsMole think Newcastle will extend their impressive run and snatch a vital three points on Saturday.
The outlet points towards Brentford’s failure to beat Newcastle in the league since 1948 - a stat skewed by the fact that the two sides have only met each other three times since then.
They wrote: “Brentford have not actually beaten Newcastle in the league since January 1948, but the points were shared in a pulsating 3-3 draw at St James' Park earlier this season.
Brentford's form in recent weeks has been extremely disappointing, and this is another tough match against an in-form Newcastle outfit.
“The Bees will fancy their chances of scoring at least once, but we are expecting Howe's side to pick up another huge three points in their battle to avoid the drop.”
Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Newcastle
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