BETTING: Newcastle United backed to win under the night lights

United face a Nottingham Forest team that appears to enjoy the Friday night lights after they demolished Barnsley 5-2 last week, though bookies expect a return to the status quo tonight – Newcastle are installed as Paddy Power’s 4/5 favourites to win despite being the away side.

Forest kick off priced at 9/2 (Betway) to secure victory, with the draw offered at 14/5 by William Hill.

Backers wishing to underpin their wager with an element of insurance may fancy BetVictor’s 7/2 odds for the contest to finish as a score draw.

Although, bolder punters could be tempted by 888sport’s 6/4 price for Newcastle to retain a clean sheet, or Unibet’s 2/1 for them to win without conceding, especially as two thirds of their away matches have ended this way.

Sunderland could count themselves a tad unlucky to leave Anfield pointless last weekend following a performance laden with the sort of spirit and determination which usually ensures struggling sides avoid relegation.

However, they’ll fancy their chances of moving off the league table’s bottom rung when they host Leicester for, as the match stats team at bettingexpert.com point out, on current form, it would be the visitors who would occupy sixteenth place in the Premier League table; the Black Cats would be one place above them.

Sunderland have taken seven points from their last eight matches, one more than Leicester, a run which suggests that the encounter will be close.

None the less, Sunderland kick off as Coral’s 9/4 underdogs to secure maximum points; Leicester, meanwhile, start as Marathonbet’s 6/5 favourites, while online bookie Matchbook.com post an eye-catching 13/5 about the stalemate.

They might be outsiders according to bookies, but David Moyes’s men could be worth backing across a variety of markets.

For example, they’re 11/4 (888sport) to be in front at the break, while Bwin quotes them at 5/4 to open the scoring.

Punters anticipating a close-run affair may fancy the look of bet365’s 10/3 odds for Sunderland to register a one goal margin of victory, or perhaps 10bet’s attractive 7/1 marked in favour of them securing three points following a drawn opening half.

Few backers expect a goalfest, a widely-held view which adds to the appeal of Coral’s 10/1 posted against a 1-0 home win.

Odds supplied by www.smartbets.com, the customisable odds comparison site.