Newcastle v Man City: FA Cup quarter-final betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Newcastle United v Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

Where to watch

BBC1, 6.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Gabriel Jesus to score at any time
1pt 4-5 general

Team news

Newcastle
Isaac Hayden, Matt Ritchie and Matty Longstaff are doubtful. This game comes too soon for Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark.

Manchester City
Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho are missing for City while Joao Cancelo is a major doubt. Phil Foden, John Stones and Eric Garcia face late fitness checks.

Match preview

Newcastle United will bid to pull off the biggest shock of this FA Cup quarter-final weekend when they face holders Manchester City at St James' Park on Sunday. They are both Premier League clubs but Steve Bruce's Magpies are the biggest price for victory of all the quarter-finalists.

The sleeping Tyneside giants haven’t reached this stage of the FA Cup since 2006 after years of prioritising the league over domestic silverware. Boyhood Toon Army member Bruce has changed all that and is determined to be the one to end 65 years of disappointment in this competition.

Bruce has all but achieved his primary goal for the season of top-flight survival by making the Magpies a tough nut to crack and they go into this clash having lost only three competitive matches at home all campaign, the same number as opponents City.

The sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the league fixture at St James’ Park - one of nine draws in 19 home matches for Newcastle this season - but that was in front of a raucous, packed house and Newcastle, perhaps more than any other side this weekend, will miss the extra edge the home fans give them.

The hosts will need any marginal gains they can get going up against a City side smarting from finally having to relinquish their Premier League crown in midweek.

The 2-1 loss to Chelsea was another example of silly defensive errors costing Guardiola’s side and it continued a troubling trend away from home which has seen them lose three of the last seven on their travels.

However, Guardiola made it clear before the defeat at Stamford Bridge that the FA Cup is now City’s top priority as they chase a treble this season.

City have been ruthless in this competition recently, winning their last nine ties by a combined score of 35-4 and they should have too much quality for a resilient Newcastle side.

The Magpies will be glad to see their nemesis Sergio Aguero sidelined for this tie but his replacement could be the one to ruin their cup dreams.

Gabriel Jesus still has his doubters but he has been the player City can turn to on the big occasions away from home, most recently netting in their Champions League win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The 23-year-old has averaged 4.5 shots per game this season, his highest average since moving to City, and he will be eager to prove he is more than just a back-up with Aguero sidelined.

The Brazilian has scored 13 of his 18 goals on the road this season and could prove the difference-maker in a tight encounter.

Key stat

City have scored in all but two of their away games this season

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