'Hard to stop': Chris Sutton now predicts what the score will be tomorrow as Manchester City entertain Newcastle in the FA Cup

As Newcastle United gear up to face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final, it seems as though the pundits aren't giving us much of a chance in this one.

If we're being completely honest, confidence isn't exactly high around the nufc.news office either, but if we didn't harbour at least some belief, then what are we even doing calling ourselves fans?

Everything is against us going into this one, history, form, the fricking Etihad record, but City are not invincible and they are prone to a wobble, so there's always hope.

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Chris Sutton isn't holding out much hope of a Newcastle win

Anthony Gordon declaring himself fit is a huge boost for the Magpies, as is the fact that City will be without Kevin De Bruyne. We also have Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes and with those two on the pitch, anything is possible.

However, that hasn't swayed BBC pundit Chris Sutton who has gone big with his score prediction.

"Liverpool gave Manchester City a bit of a going over at times in the second half at Anfield last weekend - but I just don't see Newcastle doing the same to them at the Etihad.

"Pep Guardiola always goes strong in the FA Cup and, even with Kevin de Bruyne out injured, City will be hard to stop. I am expecting to see Erling Haaland back on the scoresheet after he bagged five against Luton in the last round.

"City are my tip to go and win the FA Cup again this year. They won't do another Treble though.

"Sutton's prediction: 3-1"

If ever there was a time to spring a surprise this is it

Newcastle proved time and time again last season that they're not pushovers, but they've struggled to build on that this season. It's easy to point fingers at the massive injury list, and that is a genuine factor, but there's something else at play, but we just can't put our finger on what that is.

Tomorrow's game is huge for our season. If we get knocked out of the FA Cup, then we really don't have a lot else to play for except maybe squeezing into the Europa Conference League, but each week that goes by, that looks less and less likely.

That being said, a shock win against City in the cup will send us to Wembley for a semi-final and could just give us that confidence boost that allows us to kick on in the Premier League too. We've just got to believe.