Bet up to £30 risk free on a Newcastle win
Could it be that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is actually a genius and we, the football-loving public, are unable to appreciate his brilliance because he's simply operating on a completely different level?
It all sounds highly unlikely, but climb aboard our train of thought for a second. He judged that Chris Hughton was the man to guide Newcastle out of the Championship through the front exit when many believed he was only capable of following Leeds as high-profile casualties out of the back door.
Then after that gamble paid off, he took the Magpies down an equally peculiar path last month by axing Hughton and deciding it was the ideal time for Alan Pardew to make his Premier League comeback. He was widely scoffed at, yet three wins in five on, it doesn't appear such a bad call.
Of course, our ode to Ashley is written partly in jest, even if our musings do feature an element of truth, for he is still the brains behind the appointment of Alan Shearer to stave off relegation two seasons ago and he did invent the worst name for a stadium ever.
There's no denying though that - contrary to the expectations of the Toon Army a few weeks ago - things are rosy at the SportsDirect.com @ St. James' Park Stadium following the Leon Best-inspired 5-0 victory over West Ham and they are an appealing [1.7] to build on it by triumphing at League Two side Stevenage in the FA Cup third round.
Thanks to our special offer for those opening new Betfair accounts, you can bet up to £30 on this match or anything else that catches your eye within seven days of signing up and any losing wagers will be refunded, so there's no absolutely no risk involved.
Stevenage caused the Magpies problems in 1997-98 yet they've won just three of 14 home games since promotion to the Football League - all against bottom eight clubs - while Newcastle boss Pardew reached the final with West Ham in 2005-06 and took Southampton to the fifth round last term.
Stevenage v Newcastle
Kick-off: 5.30pm
Live on ESPN
Think Stevenage will go one better against them this time? They are [6.4]...
Published: 7 Jan 2011
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