Newcastle United are still searching for their first win of the season ahead of this weekend’s fixture with Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Magpies will travel to the Amex Stadium 19th in the Premier League table with just four points from their opening 10 matches.
Newcastle are still without a permanent manager in the dugout with Graeme Jones set to take caretaker charge for the third consecutive game, though Eddie Howe is expected to get the job.
Meanwhile, opponents Brighton have enjoyed an excellent start to the season and currently sit eighth in the table.
While Graham Potter’s side are winless in their last five matches, an excellent comeback draw at Anfield last weekend is likely to have the Seagulls full of confidence.
FiveThirtyEight, a website that gives data driven predictions for matches, has given Newcastle just a 25 per cent chance of earning all three points on Saturday.
Mark Lawrenson
BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson does not see caretaker boss Jones earning his first victory in charge on Tyneside.
He said: “It looks like Eddie Howe is the Magpies main managerial target now and he would fit the bill because he is used to fighting a relegation battle, which is what they are in.
“The sooner the new manager is in place, the better, because this is a big month for Newcastle. After the international break, three of their next four games are at home against Brentford, Norwich and Burnley.
“They will need to pick up some points from those fixtures because then they play Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United in quick succession around Christmas and there is a danger the January transfer window could open with them well adrift of safety.
“For now, Graeme Jones is still in charge, and I don't see him getting anything out of this long trip down to the south coast.”
Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Newcastle
Lewis Jones
Sky Sports betting pundit Lewis Jones has echoed the prediction of Lawrenson and is predicting a heavy defeat for the Magpies.
He said: “Graeme Jones remains in charge this weekend with the club very much in limbo. I was expecting more of a reaction to his methods than the tame showings put on at Crystal Palace and Chelsea. The defence remains leaky, and confidence looks drained with Allan Saint-Maximin cutting a frustrated figure in the last two games.
“I can see things getting much worse at the Amex in what could be a very one-sided encounter.
“Newcastle haven't scored in four games against Graham Potter's Brighton, losing 3-0 in both fixtures last campaign. His team did us proud with their performance at Liverpool last weekend, showing serious bravery on the ball and a clear game-plan. They will be pinning the Toon back for large periods, like Palace did in the 1-1 draw two weeks ago. That should see them rack up the shots and the corner count.”
Prediction: Brighton 3-0 Newcastle
Vinnie Jones
In his weekly EasyOdds column, Vinnie Jones has made it a hattrick of pundits who believe that Newcastle will return to the Northeast with another defeat.
Prediction: Brighton to win
