Eddie Howe’s side are going to come a cropper – BBC pundit with Newcastle United verdict

Chris Sutton, a BBC Sport pundit, recently made some interesting comments about Newcastle United ahead of their match against Fulham.

He shared his thoughts ahead of the Saturday fixture, acknowledging that Eddie Howe and his players knew that a victory at Craven Cottage would place Newcastle at the top of the Premier League table.

A win would move them one point ahead of Manchester City and three ahead of Arsenal before the two teams met at the Etihad on Sunday.

Sutton highlighted Fulham’s home form last season, pointing out that they won nine and lost eight of their 19 Premier League matches at Craven Cottage.

He believed Fulham should have won their previous match against West Ham but conceded a last-minute equalizer from Danny Ings, which ended the game in a 1-1 draw.

Despite Fulham’s mixed form, Sutton still had faith in their ability to win at home, although he acknowledged Newcastle’s current success in grinding out results.

Newcastle, in Sutton’s eyes, remain somewhat of an enigma. He admitted that he hasn’t been particularly impressed with their performances thus far.

While the team continues to secure victories, Sutton believes they are relying too much on individual moments of brilliance rather than cohesive team play. He predicted that eventually, Newcastle will “come a cropper,” but as of now, they are finding ways to win even when not playing their best football.

Sutton predicted a 1-1 draw for the match between Fulham and Newcastle, much like his prediction for Fulham’s game against West Ham the previous week. He also mentioned that while he was more confident in Fulham winning, he expected another draw to be the outcome.

The idea that Newcastle are bound to falter at some point, as Sutton suggests, isn’t unique to them. This happens to every team, even the best like Manchester City.

It’s inevitable in football that no team remains unbeaten forever. However, the real question is whether Newcastle’s first loss will come soon, particularly in this match against Fulham.

Fulham, in many ways, could be compared to a team like Wolves. For a team aiming to break into the top four and qualify for the Champions League, matches like these, especially away games, are crucial. Securing at least a draw against teams like Fulham is necessary, but a win can be transformative for their season.

Newcastle’s recent away record, particularly at Craven Cottage, speaks in their favor. They have won all five of their last visits to Fulham in all competitions.

Additionally, in their last 16 away matches across all competitions since the start of the year, Newcastle have won ten, drawn one, and lost only five. This strong away form suggests that they are more than capable of getting a result at Fulham.

Sutton’s analysis last week before Newcastle’s game against Wolves also ended with a similar prediction of a 1-1 draw, but Newcastle managed to win thanks to two spectacular long-range goals.

Even though Newcastle didn’t dominate the match, they still had more possession, more shots on target, and more corners than Wolves.

While Sutton believes Newcastle will eventually face a setback, there’s another perspective that suggests it’s only a matter of time before Eddie Howe’s side fully clicks into gear.

So far, they’ve shown glimpses of their potential, particularly in the opening 20 minutes of matches or brief periods in the second half. If they can put together a complete performance over 90 minutes, they could become an even more formidable force in the Premier League.

Looking ahead, Newcastle’s schedule is packed with important fixtures through the end of November. After the Fulham match, they face AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup, followed by a challenging match against Manchester City.

Other notable fixtures include games against Everton, Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham. How Newcastle navigates this tough run will reveal a lot about their prospects this season.