Preparations for the new season continue at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday as Gateshead host Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly. The county neighbours previously locked horns in the summers of 2022 and 2023, and will renew that tradition this year as they gear up for their respective campaigns at opposite ends of the English football league system.
Last season, Gateshead endured their toughest campaign since returning to the National League in the 2022-23 season as they finished 18th in the table with just 50 points from 46 matches.
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After putting six past Blyth Town in the pre-season opener earlier this month, the Heed have failed to impress against significantly weaker sides, playing out stalemates against Heaton Town and, more recently, Hebburn.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, endured their toughest campaign since the arrival of their new owners five years ago, with head coach Eddie Howe coming under scrutiny at various points during the season.
The Magpies finished 12th in the league, their lowest finish since the 2020-21 campaign under Steve Bruce, and will be aiming to return to the European qualification places next season, although the transfer window has once again been far from kind to the Tyneside outfit.
Newcastle began their pre-season campaign against Darlington last weekend, coasting to a 3-0 victory over the National League North side in a friendly clash at their training ground, Darsley Park.
Gateshead vs Newcastle United Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Newcastle overturned a two-goal first-half deficit to win 3-2 when they took on Gateshead in 2023.
- Only Morecambe (103) shipped more goals in the National League last season than Gateshead (90).
- Newcastle scored the most goals (53) of any bottom-half Premier League team last season.
- Following Saturday’s clash, Newcastle will head to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City in their next pre-season outing, while Gateshead are set to take on South Shields.
Gateshead vs Newcastle United Prediction
With 10 goals in three pre-season games, the Tynesiders have shown they are more than capable in front of goal. However, they face a near-impossible task this weekend against Premier League opposition and will primarily be aiming to give a good account of themselves.
We are backing Eddie Howe’s men to secure a comfortable victory, although the Newcastle boss will be more concerned with building cohesion and match sharpness than the result itself.
Prediction: Gateshead 1-3 Newcastle United
Gateshead vs Newcastle United Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Newcastle United to win
Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes
Edited by Peter Pedroncelli