Goals galore at The Brit

[stuartcouser]

Newcastle's plight is becoming more desperate by the week as Alan Shearer bids to steer the Magpies to safety.

Two straight defeats against Arsenal and Chelsea have left the Geordies in the Premier League relegation zone and three points adrift of safety and Saturday evening's trip to relegation rivals Stoke is crucial.

The Potters are six points clear of Newcastle and a home victory - where they have won eight times already - would fire Tony Pulis' men to virtual safety.

Stoke have been impressive at home and the arrival of James Beattie and Matthew Etherington have given the Potters' play a new dimension.

They have conceded only 13 goals on home soil and that might point football betting punters towards a low-scoring affair, but with Newcastle desperate for a win and the quality of strikers on show it looks tempting to take a plunge on the over 2.5 goals market priced at 2.16.

Shearer has been speaking about creating chances for his talented front pair of Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen this week and if that comes to fruition at The Britannia then the Stoke back four could be in for a busy afternoon.

The Magpies haven't been prolific in front of goal but with games running out they might just go for broke at Stoke.

The home side also have dangerous frontmen and Beattie is one of the form strikers in the top division. The former Sheffield United man has blasted six goals since he arrived in January and with the danger Stoke possess from long throws, corners and free-kicks they are always capable of capitalising on a Newcastle back four who have been far from secure.

Tight and tense might be the obvious prediction with so much to play for, but with quality strikers on show, gamble on goals at The Brit.

Stoke vs Newcastle Odds (http://www.checkyourodds.co.uk/football ... arison.php)