Newcastle United will be promoted back to the Premier League, at the first time of asking, if they beat Preston at St James’s Park this evening and that should be motivation enough.

With Huddersfield and Reading losing in the Championship on Saturday, it means the promotion party can start if the Magpies beat a Lilywhites side who have lost their last three in the division.

BetVictor make the home side 1/ 2 to win, 5/4 to lead at both half-time/full-time and 15/2 to win the game 2-1 – the same scoreline as the reverse fixture at Deepdale in October.

For the more optimistic Newcastle BetVictor offer 100/1 that the hosts repeat the 6-0 St James’s Park League Cup tie success also gained back in October.

Simon Grayson’s side have conceded three goals in their last three games against Leeds, Huddersfield and Norwich City and the recommendation is for Rafa Benitez’s side to win 3-1 (12/1 with BetVictor) although the Magpies to win and both teams to score at 21/10 also looks a fair price.

Middlesbrough must do without Gaston Ramirez following his early red card at Bournemouth for the visit of Sunderland on Wednesday. Wins for Swansea and Hull at the weekend have rendered the game almost meaningless, however, in the eyes of the bookies with BetVictor not offering a price for Boro or Sunderland to be relegated although you can get 50/1 for Boro and 100/1 to for Sunderland to beat the drop.

Boro are 6/5 with the Black Cats 13/5 and the draw 12/5 – a couple of months ago the supporters of both sides would have eyed up this game as a relegation six-pointer. A quick glance at the table shows that the winner would indeed, need to take six points to have any realistic chance of avoiding the drop.

A draw would not suit either team at the Riverside but I think it will finish 1-1, which is 6/1 at BetVictor.

Leyton Orient were relegated to the National League on Saturday but Hartlepool’s 2-0 home loss to Barnet means Pools are 2/9 to lose their Football League status with Newport County 10/3 and Cheltenham Town 16/1.

Newport’s home win against Accrington Stanley coupled with Pools loss to the Bees means the Exiles are out of the relegation places for the first time since the November 19.

Pools travel to Cheltenham on Saturday before entertaining promoted Doncaster Rovers on the final day.

The hope is that Rovers will have won the title by the final day of the season but Hartlepool must get something out of their visit to the LCI Rail Stadium. Jeff Stelling was not the only disgruntled Pools fan after the defeat by Barnet, but you do wonder what good changing the manager at this stage of the season would do?

For all your sporting odds check out BetVictor.com.