Premier League: Why Newcastle will outdo Sunderland

Newcastle are only two points lighter than they were from the same seven fixtures last season

Michael Lintorn offers three reasons why Newcastle will finish above Sunderland in the Premier League...

Newcastle delivered perhaps their most commendable result of the campaign to date before the international break, drawing 2-2 away to Swansea, but were trumped by rivals Sunderland claiming their first victory at home to Stoke.

That success saw the Black Cats assume a four-point advantage in the battle for north-east bragging rights, yet there are 93 more points to play for and at least three reasons to believe that the Magpies will wind up on top, something you should be able to back at around 2.111/10 on Betfair...

The weight of history

Regardless of whether they have finished fifth (2011/12) or 16th (2012/13), Newcastle have got the better of Sunderland in each of the last three years, having missed out on Tyne-Wear supremacy by a single point in their first season back in the Premier League after promotion (2009/10).

Another cause for Geordie optimism is that they outperformed their foes despite being second best in head-to-head combat in that time, going five meetings without a win and losing the latest three. Six derby points remain available this term - the first clash isn't until December 21 at St James' Park - and any improvement on 2013/14's zero-point showing will make overhauling Sunderland easier.

Newcastle haven't actually been that bad

Controversial opinion alert - one that many in the Toon Army won't even agree with: Newcastle aren't anywhere near as awful as they have been criticised for being this season. They have lost fewer than half of their games and the ones that they have are ones that they were expected to: at home to Man City and away to Southampton and Stoke.

The proof arrives in the fact that they suffered identical results in coming tenth in 2013/14: Newcastle 0-2 Man City, Southampton 4-0 Newcastle and Stoke 1-0 Newcastle.

The landscape would look far brighter if they had turned one of the draws at Aston Villa and Swansea or hosting Crystal Palace and Hull into wins, though they are only two points down on what they achieved in those last term, having lost to Swansea (0-3) and Hull (2-3) on that occasion.

They will rattle the Premier League's elite

On the evidence of 2013/14 - which the above result analysis suggests is proving quite similar to this one - Newcastle will relish the opportunity to tackle the division's most illustrious teams, which hasn't been presented to them since facing Man City in their opener.

That will be addressed shortly with Tottenham and Liverpool among their next three opponents and Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United and Everton lined up for December. Last season, the Magpies defeated Chelsea and held Liverpool on Tyneside and won away to Tottenham and Man United.