BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Outcome nobody wants is answer to Toon teaser

NEWCASTLE versus Manchester City used to be the ‘play some nice football but ultimately flatter to deceive derby’. Not any more, though.

There are major prizes at stake for both sides in Sunday’s game
– the Magpies could go third with a win while City, well, you probably know what’s on the line for them – and you can’t really see either of them messing up in an amusing fashion.

Alan Pardew and Roberto Mancini have harnessed the flair that their respective clubs were renowned for to excellent defences and combative midfields. It’s great for fans of Newcastle and City but it’s not half as much fun for the rest of us.

Somehow I don’t think we’re going to see City in the League One
play-off final or Ruud Gullit’s dreadlocks freezing on a snowy night at St James’s Park any time soon. Having said that, I’ve just got a feeling that the new and efficient, 2012 models of these teams could cancel each other out.

City’s away form has been poor for ages, ignoring that 6-1 romp at Norwich, and Newcastle are a tough side to break down.

It’s the outcome nobody wants but I’ve got to be backing the draw in this one.