Free tips Championship Tips: Cardiff v Newcastle (Friday, 7.45pm)

Recently-promoted Newcastle United could revive their title bid with an away against mid-table Cardiff City, in the penultimate game of the Championship season.

Here are our betting tips and predictions.

Compare betting odds Cardiff v Newcastle here

Cardiff v Newcastle Prediction

Newcastle to win at 19/20 with William Hill

Cardiff v Newcastle Best Bet

Newcastle to win by a one-goal margin at 11/4 with bet365

Cardiff v Newcastle Past Meetings

The Magpies have won eight of their last nine fixtures against the Bluebirds. They won the reverse fixture 2-1 thanks to two first-half goals.

Cardiff v Newcastle Stats

City have won 11 home league matches from a possible 22 this season, while over 2.5 goals has happened in 59% of those.

United have won 13 from 22 away matches in the league, while over 2.5 goals has happened in 46% of those.

Cardiff Team News

Rickie Lambert will be pushing for a start after returning from injury in last week’s goalless draw with Wigan. Defender Declan John should return to the squad after missing last week through illness, but Sol Bamba could again miss out.

Newcastle Team News

Rafa Benitez is once again likely to be without top-scorer Dwight Gayle as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Defender Ciaran Clark got through Monday’s promotion clincher unscathed.

Reason for Cardiff v Newcastle Bets

Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock is already preparing for next season. He’s lined up replacements for the likely-departing Bruno Manga and has recently talked up his side’s chances of promotion in 2018. The season is over just yet, however, and Friday’s visitors are still on the hunt for silverware.

Rafa Benitez’s side are trailing title rivals and league leaders Brighton, but a win would pile the pressure on the Seagulls who play their penultimate match on Saturday afternoon. The Magpies had previously gone off the boil, losing their last two away games and drawing the previous two. However, now that promotion is sealed after Monday’s convincing win over Preston, they can refocus on their sole objective of top spot. They’ve fought the south-coast side all season for the title, and they’ll have been buoyed by Chris Hughton’s men recent loss to Leeds.

Cardiff’s draw with the lowly Latics last week, and Warnock’s recent comments, suggests the Bluebirds are already thinking about next year – or at least their summer holidays. They didn’t muster a single shot on target against Graham Barrow’s team in what was an insipid encounter. However, Friday night’s affair is the last at the Cardiff City Stadium this season, something which may help inspire the home fans and players. They’re also on a six-game unbeaten run at home – a streak they’ll be keen to take into the new season.

The Welsh club’s home run is likely to end on Friday, however, as United look to put some final pressure on Brighton. Back an away win at 19/20 with William Hill. Don’t expect Warnock’s side to be easily beaten – their home form suggests they’ll make a good match of it. Back United to win by a winning margin of one goal at 11/4 with Bet365.

Cardiff v Newcastle Prediction

Newcastle to win at 19/20 with William Hill

Cardiff v Newcastle Best Bet

Newcastle to win by a one-goal margin at 11/4 with bet365

Compare betting odds Cardiff v Newcastle here