"What are Newcastle?" - Chris Sutton makes Fulham prediction
Chris Sutton is backing Fulham to beat Newcastle 2-1 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, questioning what sort of team Matthias Jaissle is trying to build.
The BBC Sport pundit expects another defeat before the international break, having correctly backed Everton to win on Monday. That earned him another two points in The Sutton Scorecard, although his overall record remains four points from a possible 45.
Sutton questions Newcastle's identity
Writing in his latest BBC Sport predictions, Sutton says:
"What are Newcastle? What type of team are they? I am not sure and that's why their manager, Matthias Jaissle, is getting a bit of stick from Magpies fans.
"That's what is different with today's Premier League compared to my playing days, because we see it all the time now - even a new manager comes under pressure if they have a couple of bad results.
"Newcastle have lost three of their past four league games and, in this day and age, that's enough for people to say the wheels are coming off.
"That's why this game feels big for Jaissle. Win, and the Magpies head into the international break on a positive note. Lose it, however, and stand by for a lot of moaning and grumbling from their fans over the next couple of weeks.
"That's what I think will happen, too. Fulham's results have picked up and so have their performances. They are at home here, and I am expecting them to be too slick and too well organised for Newcastle."
Sutton's prediction: Fulham 2-1 Newcastle.
There is more behind the frustration than modern football's impatience. Monday's 1-0 defeat to Everton brought our first shot on target in the 85th minute.
The Sutton Scorecard 2026/27
Having backed Everton to win 2-1 last time out, Sutton collects two points for getting the result right with the wrong score. His only other successful call was Aston Villa's win at St James' Park.
An exact score earns five points, a correct result with the wrong score earns two, and a wrong result earns zero.
| Match | Sutton's prediction | Actual result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle vs Liverpool | 1-3 | 2-2 | 0 |
| Tottenham vs Newcastle | 2-1 | 0-2 | 0 |
| Newcastle vs Bournemouth | 2-1 | 2-2 | 0 |
| Leeds vs Newcastle | 1-1 | 4-1 | 0 |
| Newcastle vs Hull | 1-1 | 2-1 | 0 |
| Coventry vs Newcastle | 1-1 | 4-1 | 0 |
| Newcastle vs Aston Villa | 2-3 | 0-1 | 2 |
| Crystal Palace vs Newcastle | 2-2 | 0-2 | 0 |
| Newcastle vs Everton | 1-2 | 0-1 | 2 |
- Predictions scored: 9
- Exact scores: 0
- Correct results, wrong score: 2
- Wrong results: 7
- Total points: 4/45
Sutton is starting to collect points from Newcastle defeats. We'd happily see him draw another blank on Saturday.
