What's happening in the northeast this weekend
(Image Credit: Sky Sports)
Middlesbrough will welcome Frank Lampard’s Derby County to the Riverside Stadium this weekend in a 12:30 kickoff in the Sky Bet Championship.
With both teams having aspirations of achieving promotion to the Premier League this season, the game will be a tough contest for both sides
Boro will still be without defender Ryan Shotton, after he missed out against Rotherham on Tuesday night and could potentially be sidelined for a couple weeks, whilst the Rams will be without key defender Craig Bryson, who netted in their key victory against Sheffield United last weekend.
Currently sitting second in the table, level with twenty six points along with Leeds United and Sheffield United, the Boro will be hoping to bounce back from their goalless draw to struggling Rotherham.
The Rams will be looking to continue their winning form, after thrashing West Bromwich Albion 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Derby’s young prospect Jack Marriott, who has been a key player so far this season, has notched up three goals in his last three appearances for the Rams and will indeed be a key player in this affair.
With the game being shown live on Sky Sports, it should produce a tasty affair for the neutral fan and both teams’ supporters, and with Derby County’s current form of netting goals they will feel they have the edge over The Boro despite being the visiting team.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-3 Derby County
(Image Credit: Real Football Men)
Newcastle United's next Premier League opponents are Southampton as they travel to the St Mary’s Stadium this weekend.
The Magpies currently sit bottom of the table with their worst start to a season since 1898 whilst Southampton only sit a point above the drop zone at 16th.
Florian Lejeune still remains out of action as he recovers from an ACL injury whilst Ciaran Clark and Salomón Rondón could make their returns this weekend after returning back to training.
Southampton could see a quick return of Mario Lemina after he has overcame an injury to his knee.
This game is a perfect opportunity for Newcastle to get elusive first win of the season as they look to take advantage of Southampton’s poor home record.
Mark Hughes’ Saints will also be hoping to earn their first home league win since November, but have also failed to score in their last four league games.
In what looks to be a tight affair with one goal most likely being the difference, both teams will have to rely on their strike forces to make sure they are clinical in front of goal. Taking current form into account, this one screams nothing more than a stalemate.
Prediction: Southampton 0-0 Newcastle.
(Image Credit: Southend United)
Sunderland will be hosting Southend United this weekend at the Stadium of Light in the Sky Bet League One.
The Black Cats are currently sitting third in the table with a good run of form behind them whilst Southend sit at a healthy 9th placed position and are just three points away from potentially climbing into the playoff picture.
Sunderland could potentially be without their leading goal scorer Josh Maja as he missed their Tuesday night victory against Doncaster Rovers. Bryan Oviedo will return after his three game suspension has been served.
Southend may also be missing top goal scorer Tom Hopper’s as he currently is dealing with a knee injury along with Harry Lennon who will also be out with a fractured leg.
Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Walsall will send Southend to the North East in very high spirits, with their last three away league games allowing them to take the full nine points back to Essex.
But the Black Cats have lost just once this season and have made the Stadium of Light a very tough place to visit for the rest of the leagues opposition so far and with both teams without their leading goal scorer it looks to be a test for both teams current good run of form but still expect to see goals.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-2 Southend
Hartlepool United face Sutton United this weekend at Victoria Park in the Vanarama National League.
Both teams will be looking to continue their push for the playoffs with just a position between them with the Pools sitting 8th whilst Sutton currently stand at 9th.
Matthew Bates’ has a near full healthy team to choose from with their only player currently recovering from injury Luke Williams will not be rushed back into action for this encounter.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell will be without experienced midfielder Nicky Bailey as he will serve a one match suspension after being dismissed in their FA Cup win against Wealdstone.
The Pools will hope their experience in midfield will do the justice to gain all three points, with leading scorer Liam Noble and Centre Forward Niko Muir in goal scoring form with a combined four goals in their last four appearances.
But few would bet against The Yellows having a big say in this game, with their powerful brand of direct football proving a handful for many in the National League since their arrival just last season.
Both teams should have a big say in this fixture but the Durham based outfit will most likely be the favourites in this one after they picked up a well-earned point against Leyton Orient in their previous match and should do enough to keep the South London side out of the picture.
Prediction: Hartlepool United 2-0 Sutton United
Gateshead return to Vanarama National League action on Saturday with a long trip ahead for their visitors Aldershot Town at the Gateshead International Stadium.
Play-off chasing Gateshead sit 7th in the league standings and come off the back of an FA cup tie, in which they handed a 4-0 thrashing to Dunston UTS whilst Aldershot currently sit 16th in the table with their form currently very unpredictable at the moment.
Gateshead have no injury worries, with Steve Watson having a full healthy team to select from whilst The Shots will be without injured trio Jacob Berkeley-Agyapong, skipper Karleigh Osborne and James Rowe.
With a long round trip of over 600 miles for the Heed’s opposition in this fixture, the home side will look to enforce dominance to continue their playoff chase to the football league, something Gateshead have come into contention with for the past five years.
Gateshead will be looking to rely on Luke Armstrong and Scott Boden who have provided a combined 11 goals so for the Heed and could add more their tally’s in this one.
Prediction: Gateshead 2-0 Aldershot Town
Darlington will travel to Warwickshire this weekend as they face Leamington in the Vanarama National League North.
The Quakers will be looking to extend their form to a hat trick of wins as they currently sit 13th in the table whilst Leamington stand at 16th.
Ben O’Hanlon will have a fitness test on his ankle injury, goalkeeper, Cameron Hall, who impressed in the Durham Challenge Cup.
Harvey Saunders will look to notch up his scoring statistics after netting in twice at the weekend in their win against FC United of Manchester.
Martin Gray will also be relying on the youngster as their previous top scorer Reece Styche was recently sold to Alfreton Town for an undisclosed fee.
Leamington are without any points in their last four matches so Darlington should be the favourites in this one to extend their run of form to three wins and the loss of Reece Styche shouldn’t be an effect in this encounter for them.
Prediction: Leamington 0-3 Darlington