Blyth Town vs Gateshead - Friendlies Clubs

All eyes turn to the home ground on July 7, 2026 as Blyth Town welcome Gateshead in a Friendlies Clubs encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. He experienced victory in his only Old Firm appearance as a Gers player, but Sunday will be his first taste of the fixture in the dugout.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Friendlies Clubs contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. Blyth Town will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Gateshead will travel with intent, knowing that a positive result here could kick-start their campaign. Arsenal also saw the importance of having good depth at right-back when Mosquera was forced to start the Champions League final with PSG out of position - which then resulted in the young Spaniard conceding a penalty.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Blyth Town favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas Gateshead are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. But this approach also takes something that is almost anonymous in football - time.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. St Johnstone twice gave up a lead before storming back to edge a seven-goal thriller on their Scottish Premiership return at home to Kilmarnock.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. Whatever the outcome, the Friendlies Clubs fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Fulham's Antonee Robinson could be one of those, who would likely be a cheaper alternative to Hall, who has just enjoyed a breakout season with the Magpies.