'I don't understand': Chris Sutton goes into bat for Eddie Howe as he predicts the score between Spurs and Newcastle tonight
Newcastle United are in Premier League action tonight as they take on Tottenham Hotspur in what has been described as the 'desperation derby'. Kick-off is at 7:30pm live on TNT Sports.
Spurs have one of the worst home records in the Premier League this season, while Newcastle have one of the worst away records. So we can all see where this is heading, can't we?
Both sides have found it difficult to get up to speed in the Premier League, Spurs perhaps more so than Newcastle, but the Magpies' current form doesn't fill us with confidence going into the game.
The game has draw written all over it, it's just whether the battered and bruised sides have it in them to score.
Chris Sutton had his Weetabix yesterday
Unsurprisingly, Chris Sutton has gone with a draw for this one in his prediction for the BBC where the former Blackburn man got a little bit ranty.
"Tottenham captain Cristian Romero let his manager down with his red card against Manchester United, and now he is facing a four-game ban.
"It's fine for Romero to be a motor mouth on social media, calling the club's recruitment "disgraceful", but he clearly needs to concentrate on his own game because he has been wild in the challenge again.
"For a manager like Thomas Frank, who is under pressure, that is the last thing you need.
"Poor old Eddie Howe is feeling the heat at Newcastle too, though. We had callers in to 606 at the weekend saying it is time for a change - my reaction was 'what!?'.
"I really don't get that thinking at all, and not just because Howe's the guy who ended their long wait for a trophy, less than a year ago.
"His squad is stretched now because of the Champions League and their run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and he also had everything around Alexander Isak's exit to deal with at the start of the season, when it wasn't his doing.
"Howe just hasn't been able to replace Isak, either. Yoane Wissa has taken a while to get up and running and Nick Woltemade is very different to Isak in that he likes to come to the ball all the time.
"People are saying a change of voice might help, but what about backing the guy who has given you so much happiness? I don't understand why you'd want him out.
"This is a very difficult game to predict for various reasons, but we do know Spurs are poor at home and Newcastle aren't great away.
"I still think someone will win it, but I am going to sit in the middle anyway, and go for a draw.
"Sutton's prediction: 1-1"
A win tonight would be absolutely massive
We're not sure that Chris Sutton is the man to mediate the fan divide right now, as the Howe In and Howe Out rift grows wider. The only thing that can unite both sides is the team getting points on the board and that has to start tonight.
A win away from home after the recent performances would be the perfect tonic. It won't heal everything, but it will go a long way to blowing away those black clouds.
It's just whether or not they are actually capable of doing so? Recent evidence suggests not, unfortunately.
