Palace secured a vital three points at the expense of Leicester City in their bid for Premier League survival.
Alan Pardew now turns his attentions to welcoming his former team Newcastle United to SE25 for another key game for the Eagles.
Newcastle come to Selhurst off the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke City and will love nothing more than to derail Palace’s and Pardew’s momentum that has seen them climb six points clear of relegation danger.
Pardew took charge of the reverse fixture against Neil Warnock’s Palace in which a last minute Wilfried Zaha goal secured Palace’s first point of the season. The Eagles had led twice through Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon but Mike Williamson looked to have snatched all three points for Newcastle until Zaha’s late strike.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Mile Jedinak (ankle) should be fit to return to club action having not played since December. The Australia captain is yet to play since returning from Asian Cup duty. Yannick Bolasie has yet to return to training since his DR Congo side secured third spot in the African Cup Of Nations. Marouane Chamakh (face) should return to the bench having missed the trip to Leicester on Saturday. Scott Dann was subbed off after a clash of heads but is expected to start.
Newcastle United
Cheik Tiote (ankle) misses the long trip south to London. Siem De Jong (thigh) and Rolando Aarons (hamstring) are also sidelined. Both Ryan and Steven Taylor are set to miss out giving John Carver a selection headache.
Form Guide
Palace have only lost once in the league since Boxing Day and will look to avenge their home defeat in the League Cup and beat Newcastle at Selhurst Park for the first time since 1984. The Toon on the other hand have only managed one win in five, losing three since Alan Pardew left the Magpies.
One To Watch
Jack Colback
Midfielder. 25 years old. 23 appearances. 3 goals. 4 assists. 6.99 average rating.
The former Sunderland midfielder proved to be difficult to deal with for Palace in August and having scored his third goal of the season against Stoke City on Sunday, he will definitely be one to watch. The ‘Ginger Pirlo‘ as he is known up in the North East is a product of Sunderland’s youth academy but is a lifelong Newcastle fan.
Predictions
While the popular prediction is a home win based on form, the visitors will be up for this one against their former manager who most of the players signed for. On the other hand, Pardew will know the Newcastle team inside out so perhaps has the upper hand. It is a tough one to call but Palace certainly need to break the long standing record Newcastle have on the road in South London.
- EPL Index prediction – home win
- Sky Sports Pundit Paul Merson’s prediction – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
- My prediction – home win
- Paddy Power odds – home win 13/10 – draw 23/10 – away win 11/5
