‘I worry’ - Newcastle United to apply further pressure on under-fire West Ham manager

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The experts are backing Newcastle United to continue their upturn in form at St James’ Park tonight.

West Ham United travel to St James’ Park looking to end a four-game winless run. Julen Lopetegui, appointed to replace David Moyes over the summer, is already facing questions about his future.

The Hammers sit 14th - just three points above the relegation zone - despite spending over £100million in the summer. As for Newcastle, victory for Eddie Howe’s men will propel them to sixth.

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Wins over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have got the Magpies’ season back on track after a stuttering start. The pundits appear to be backing another triumph for Newcastle tonight.

Chris Sutton

“It feels to me like Southampton’s Russell Martin is the manager who is closest to the edge at the moment but West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui is probably not too far behind him,” Sutton told BBC Sport. “I was at this game last season, when Newcastle won 4-3 after being 3-1 down, and it was probably one of the results that meant Lopetegui’s predecessor, David Moyes, was not offered a new deal.

“Hammers fans have been underwhelmed by what they’ve seen since Lopetegui arrived because it is not working out under him. As I’ve said before, I don’t quite know what kind of team they are trying to be. I don’t see them getting any joy at St James' Park this time, either. Alexander Isak looked back to his best when Newcastle beat Forest last time out, and they should be too strong for West Ham too.”

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 West Ham

Paul Merson

"Newcastle are starting to pick up pace now," Merson wrote in his Sportskeeda column. “They have won three in a row and sit just a point off third place. I can see them winning this game. If they start this game well, they will run riot.

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"West Ham got absolutely rinsed 3-0 by Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks back. I don't even know how they beat Manchester United! I worry for West Ham, but I still think they will give Julen Lopetegui a lot more time. If they weren't going to back him, they would have got rid of him after the draw with Everton before the international break.

"If you are counting on Lopetegui to turn it around against Newcastle here and Arsenal next, you are delusional! I don't think he will be there long-term, but he still has time. West Ham have a clash against Leicester coming up in two games' time, that's a cup final and if he does not win, he won't be in the job.”

Prediction: Newcastle 3-0 West Ham

Mark Lawrenson

“I really, really fancy Newcastle to win this,” he told Paddy Power. “They haven’t been great overall but they’ve had a couple of good results and they look to have something about them now. I think pretty much everyone’s fit and I just don’t fancy West Ham at all making the long trip up to the freezing north!”

Prediction: Newcastle 3-0 West Ham

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