Newcastle v Stoke Tips | 8th February 2015 | Sky Sports 1

CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) takes a look at the Sunday afternoon clash between Newcastle and Stoke. Another win for John Carver?

Newcastle v Stoke | Sunday 14:05 | Sky Sports 1

I was at a wedding last week (best man, since you're asking) and when at 5pm, after the ceremony and tears, someone pulled out their phone and stated reciting the scores it was Hull 0 v 3 Newcastle that made me choke on my rose wine. Despite that score, I can't be backing Newcastle at 5/4 on Sunday.

Just two points separate these sides in the table but I think Stoke will finish a lot more than two points clear of Newcastle come late-May. It's really hard not to admire what Moaning Mark Hughes is doing at the club.

Hughes has dropped the direct approach of Tony Pulis and slowly moulded the club into a pretty side. It took a while for success to kick in, indeed they were looking like relegation candidates in late-November last season, but a strong second half of the season saw them finish 9th.

This season they currently sit 10th after an erratic campaign where they've beaten Man City yet lost to Burnley. I love siding with Stoke when they're available at chunky prices and today fits that bill.

No team in the whole of the UK has returned a better level stakes profit than the Potters this season so they're always a great side to back at big prices.

Forgive me, but I'm still not convinced by John Carver. No managerial experience apart from a brief spell managing Toronto FC, Carver has lots of questions to answer. Three defeats from his five games in charge hardly screams promise and from the highlights it looked like the 3-0 win against Hull last week flattered them.

It's quite simply a price thing. I think Stoke are a superior side to Newcastle and when BetVictor are giving me 13/5 on them winning I'm going to take it. They've beaten Man City, Tottenham and Everton away this season and I'm hoping Newcastle gets added to that list.