Newcastle United face a monumental task as they prepare to host Manchester City at St James' Park, burdened by one of the most daunting records in English top-flight history.
A History of Dominance
The statistics make for grim reading for the Magpies. Newcastle have managed just a single victory in their last 35 Premier League encounters with Manchester City, suffering a staggering 28 defeats in that period. The personal record of their manager, Eddie Howe, offers little solace; in 18 league matches against City, he has drawn two and lost 16.
Compounding the issue is City's remarkable consistency in front of goal against Newcastle. The reigning champions have scored in each of their last 33 league games against them, a run of scoring that only three sides in English top-flight history have bettered against a single opponent.
The Weight of History
This historical dominance places Manchester City in an elite and unfortunate group for Newcastle. The only longer such runs are Chelsea against Newcastle (37 games between 1933 and 1969), Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle (35 games between 1922 and 1961), and Everton against Blackburn Rovers (34 games between 1925 and 1962).
The challenge is amplified by Newcastle's current form, having lost their last two league matches, and the ever-present threat of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker already boasts 14 domestic goals this season and an incredible 32 goals in just 20 appearances across all competitions.
Can the Toon Army Inspire an Upset?
Despite the overwhelming odds, the famous St James' Park atmosphere, driven by the passionate Toon Army, will be hoping to inspire a performance that can finally skew these one-sided statistics. All eyes will be on the Newcastle players, including Nick Woltemade, to deliver a performance bordering on the seismic. The kick-off for this highly anticipated fixture is set for 5.30pm GMT.
