Newcastle United U21 face Manchester City U21 at Northumberland on Sunday, Oct 18 at 5:00 PM in a basement battle that neither side can afford to lose. Both clubs are deep in the relegation picture in the Premier League 2, and defeat here could prove costly come the end of the season.

Newcastle United U21 come into this fixture struggling badly (0W 3L in last 3). Manchester City U21, meanwhile, arrive out of form (1W 2L recently) — actually the better-performing side in recent weeks.

In 2 previous meetings, Newcastle United U21 lead 0–2 with 0 draws. Their last encounter ended in Newcastle United U21 won 0–4. These two tend to produce goals — averaging 4.0 per game in recent meetings.

Verdict: This looks an evenly matched contest. Home advantage gives Newcastle United U21 a slight edge, but Manchester City U21 are capable of causing problems. A draw would be a fair result.