Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FA Cup match.
Newcastle United go into this FA Cup Round of 16 tie with significantly less time to prepare than Birmingham City. Just days ago, on 5 February, Newcastle United played the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, securing their place in the final. However, they arrive in high spirits after that success.
Birmingham City
Birmingham City, the League One leaders, also had a midweek fixture, playing in the EFL Trophy quarter-finals, where they edged past Stevenage (1:0), scoring only in the 83rd minute. In the league, they remain in dominant form, unbeaten since 23 November and comfortably sitting top of the table. However, their league form is hardly a strong measure when facing a Premier League side of Newcastle’s level. Their FA Cup journey has also been relatively straightforward, with a 2:1 victory over Lincoln in the previous round, a team from their own division.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United, meanwhile, defeated Arsenal (2:0) in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg, but they have struggled in Premier League home matches, suffering consecutive defeats against Bournemouth (1:4) and Fulham (1:2). Interestingly, their away form has been much stronger, with five victories in recent fixtures, including a 2:0 win over Arsenal in the EFL Cup and another victory over Manchester United (2:0).
Birmingham City vs Newcastle United Prediction
Despite having limited recovery time, Newcastle’s superior quality should be enough to overcome the League One leaders. The last time Birmingham faced a similar-level Premier League opponent, they were defeated 2:0 by Fulham in the EFL Cup. A similar outcome is likely here, with Newcastle expected to win comfortably.
