With Norwich likely to be beaten at Manchester United, there's a huge incentive for both Sunderland and Cardiff as the pair meet in a crucial showdown at the Stadium of Light.

A reverse for either team will probably condemn them to the Championship, but encouragingly the Black Cats have now been nudged out to 10/11 for the drop by bet365 having taken four unlikely points at Man City and Chelsea and they're strong favourites at even money (Ladbrokes) to beat the Bluebirds.

The South Wales outfit arrive as BetVictor's 10/3 outsiders and it's 13/5 with Stan James to finish all square, a wager that might be popular amongst those expecting a tight, nervy affair. The same punters can also tackle Winner.com's 6/1 about a 1-1 scoreline and it's 14/1 at Stan James to be 2-2.

Buoyed by recent results however, the Black Cats should enjoy the upper hand and they're 8/1 at bet365 to card a second successive 2-1 triumph while BetVictor rate Sunderland at 11/4 to nick it by one and it's 7/10 courtesy of betway for Poyet's charges to fire the first goal.

Front pairing Connor Wickham and Fabio Borini are 9/2 (Skybet) and 6/1 (William Hill) respectively to grab that opener.

In the doldrums as the season peters out, Newcastle have lost five on the spin and as they head to Arsenal on Monday, Alan Pardew's men aren't expected to stop the rot.

Indeed, Stan James make the Gunners emphatic favourites at 1/3 to inflict a sixth straight defeat on the beleaguered Magpies, BetVictor's 10/1 underdogs while Skybet rate United at as high as 9/2 just to grab a share of the spoils in North London.

Newcastle have been beaten in their last four against Arsene Wenger's side, a goalless encounter at St James's Park in 2011 the last time they avoided defeat at Arsenal's hands.

It's 19/1 (BetVictor) for another 0-0 scoreline and for punters expecting a score draw (6/1, bet365), Winner.com price a 1-1 stalemate at 10/1.

Optimists might feel that last week's long-awaited return of Loic Remy can provide the Magpies with a boost. The Frenchman is a 9/1 shot at betway to break the deadlock at the Emirates Stadium, where it's 11/10 (Stan James) for Newcastle to score. Nevertheless, despite Remy being fit again, Pardew's team are still as high as 25/1 via Paddy Power to shade it 2-1 and bet365 mark 10/1 against an away success by one.

Middlesbrough might not have much to play for, but can have a huge impact at the foot of the table this weekend, if they defeat Barnsley.

Indeed a victory for Aitor Karanka's men, priced at even money by BetVictor will condemn the Tykes to relegation so the visitors, Paddy Power's 3/1 outsiders, are desperate for the points.

Even a draw (13/5, Stan James) is no good for Barnsley, who are 10/3 via bet365 to manage a score draw at the Riverside and Winner.com quote 13/2 for the teams to play out a 1-1 stalemate.

All the pressure is on the Tykes and their nerves could play into the hands of Boro, a 29/10 chance at Ladbrokes to shade it by a one-goal margin. More accurately, BetVictor go 17/2 about Middlesbrough grabbing the only goal and it's 9/2 at William Hill for them to shade it following a level first period.

Ten-man Hartlepool's win over Morecambe means they're safe and William Hill make them 13/5 to celebrate by win at Plymouth.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

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