'Knowing their luck...' - Paul Merson makes gloomy forecast for 'poor Newcastle'

Paul Merson has claimed that it would be just Newcastle United’s luck to win a first trophy in over 50 years in front of an empty stadium.
Steve Bruce.  (Photo by Lee Smith - Pool/Getty Images)Steve Bruce.  (Photo by Lee Smith - Pool/Getty Images)
Steve Bruce. (Photo by Lee Smith - Pool/Getty Images)

The Magpies haven’t won any silverware of note since they lifted the Fairs Cup in 1969, but are just two games away from a trip to Wembley in the Carabao Cup this season.

Steve Bruce’s men face Brentford in the quarter-final of that competition on Tuesday evening, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Stoke City making up the rest of the last eight.

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But Merson has suggested that the Magpies cannot afford to focus their attention solely on their cup exploits just yet.

The Toon Army host Fulham on Saturday night, and the Sky Sports pundit believes that a win could be enough to ensure Newcastle pull clear of a relegation battle, even at this early stage of the campaign.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, he said: “I think they [Newcastle] are in a position where any other game, any other game, I would say the Brentford game was the biggest game.

"I couldn’t think of a worse game for them. I think they’d have been better playing Man City today, or a Man United, or a Chelsea, or a Liverpool.

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"This is a big game [against Fulham]. They win this game, and I think they put it to bed and they’re away, and then they can concentrate.

"But I think Brentford’s a big game.”

Merson was also quick to point out one potential pitfall facing the Magpies, even if they do make it to Wembley.

"The one thing you wanted if you’re a Newcastle fan [is silverware]”, he said.

"Knowing Newcastle’s luck, they’ll get to the final and there won’t be any fans allowed in. That’s the way it would probably work with poor Newcastle.

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"All them years of not winning anything, and they'd probably win the cup [in an empty stadium].

"But I would say today’s a big game. If they win this they put it to bed. I can only see it as a five-horse race. If Newcastle win today, I think they’re out of it.”