Newcastle have lost their last five, form poor enough to prompt bet365 to cut their relegation odds from 200/1 to 66/1 and although the Magpies look highly unlikely to go down given their nine-point cushion above the drop zone, the pressure is increasing on John Carver.

Bookies don’t fancy United to stop the rot this weekend as they meet Tottenham at St James’s Park, BetVictor rating Newcastle as 23/10 underdogs and Stan James installing Spurs as 13/10 favourites.

Ladbrokes chalk 12/5 against it finishing all square and punters fancying an inconclusive affair can also tackle BetVictor’s 13/2 about a 1-1 scoreline or a score draw at 16/5 courtesy of Paddy Power.

In the handicaps, Winner.com acknowledge the Magpies’ status as underdogs and award them a goal head start at odds of 13/20 while in William Hill’s ‘Draw No Bet’ market, Carver’s troops are quoted at 23/20. However, United will take encouragement from the fact that they edged out the visitors when the pair met at White Hart Lane in October and a repeat of the 2-1 scoreline from that October contest is 12/1 with bet365.

Stan James offer 19/5 about a Newcastle victory by a one-goal margin, it’s a slightly heftier 13/2 via betway for the Magpies to come out on top following an even first period and for optimistic fans tipping a United clean sheet (14/5, BetVictor), bet365 make Carver’s men 5/1 to prevail ‘to nil’.

In terms of goals, Skybet go 4/5 about a match tally of at least three, the first of which is 5/4 (bet365) to be struck by a Newcastle player and Stan James mark 9/1 against Ayoze Perez firing that opener.

Hartlepool remain a point clear of danger with just three matches remaining and supporters will be encouraged to note that Ronnie Moore’s side are now odds-on at 5/6 via Skybet to avoid the dreaded drop.

Nevertheless, bookies expect Pools’ survival hopes to be dealt a blow this weekend as they travel to Luton, bet365 installing the Hatters as 10/11 favourites and Stan James rating them at 7/2 to collect a pivotal win.

BetVictor post 11/4 against an inconclusive affair at Kenilworth Road, where Ladbrokes price a score draw at 4/1 and it’s 6/1 courtesy of betway for the contest to finish 1-1.

Travelling supporters seeking to hedge their bets a touch can back Pools, aided by a goal start, at 10/11 in Paddy Power’s handicaps.

The hosts, however, have lost a remarkable ten of their last 13 matches and Pools will be confident of coming out on top. They’re 11/2 (Skybet) to do so by a one-goal margin, BetVictor quote 21/2 about a 1-0 away success and Moore’s charges are a hefty 17/2 at William Hill to shade it despite an even first period.

In attack finally, bet365 chalk 15/8 against United breaking the deadlock and the same firm rate Marlon Harewood at 10/1 to follow his midweek leveller against Accrington with the first goal in this encounter.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

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