Premier League betting preview : Hull City- Newcastle United

We have done very well opposing United recently, last time was at home to Tottenham when I wrote ....

We discussed the problems that United have without Loic Remy and Yohan Cabaye ahead of their 3-0 home loss to North East rivals Sunderland at the start of the month ....

We opposed United in midweek at Norwich City , main reason focused around the huge loss of their star midfielder in the transfer window, ahead of the game I wrote ....."United have sold Yohan Cabaye (19-7-3) to PSG they are 0-2-1 without him this season, two home draws and a heavy road defeat and were an eyepopping 2-1-9 without the Frenchman last season, the two wins came against relegated teams (QPR and Wigan) and on the road, they are 0-1-7 over the two campaigns when he has been missing, conceding at least two in each, at an average of over 3 per game ! I think we can say he will be missed ! To be fair to the Magpies, they started really well and should have had the game sewn up by the break, but City ended the stronger and were close to snatching all three points at the death, it remained honours even and that run is now up to just two wins in 16 starts without Cabaye."

Today they have to play the North East derby against an inform rival, also missing the suspended Loic Remy ( 21-11-2), they have failed to score in the two EPL starts he has missed and lost 2-1 to Cardiff City here in the FA Cup, when he was rested and only came on for the final six minutes.

They have since lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea and have failed to score in 4 of their last 5 starts and not once in the four matches Remy, who is still suspended this evening, has missed.

They have beaten a couple of the top teams here in recent campaigns, but they tend to under perform in general to the stronger sides and have just a 31% win record at home to top 10 teams over the last two seasons.

The Magpies are further hampered by the loss of defensive midfielder Cheik Tioté ( 21-0-1) and they suddenly look a little short on quality and belief.

That is all a bit jumbled as the notes were from three previews, but I am short of time and you get the gist , I am sure. They lost very heavily to Spurs, but after an 11 day break ( no FA Cup involvement) found a late winner at home to Aston Villa courtesy of the returning Loic Remy. They started very slowly as you might expect after such a poor run and the crowd were equally nervous as United had not scored in four straight home games. However, they played themselves into the game, exerted a huge amount of pressure late on, were denied by the woodwork, but eventually found the back of the net and the goal and points will have done them a lot of good. With Remy they have a focus point for their play, they also got Cheik Tioté back, giving them a more solid look in midfield.

It is all feast or famine for the hosts, City have failed to score in 5 from 9 in the league, but scored 13 goals in the other four. They have a degree of safety in the league with a six point advantage over the drop zone and a lot of teams below them in the table, that is a long way from safety, but it would not be natural if their attention didn't switch slightly to next week and a home FA Cup tie with Sunderland, a team they have already beaten twice this season, do so again and they will travel to Wembley for their first semi final since 1930 and that will be a very big deal for both club and the city of Hull.

I see further motivation for United with big rivals Sunderland playing a Cup final of their own tomorrow and they will be looking for at least a share of local headlines.Just four starts in February for them, two less than City and fresh and with their top striker back, I favour the visitors with the handicap start. 1.5 units Newcastle United +0.25 ball 1.97 asian line/Ibramarket.

Good Luck.