It is a return to a forming stomping ground for Eagles boss Alan Pardew as Palace face the long trip up to the North East to take on a struggling Newcastle United side.
The form of the hosts has taken an upturn in recent weeks and the need to secure more points in order to survive in the Premier League this season is becoming desperate with games fast running out.
Much had been said of the appointment of Rafa Benitez to replace Steve McLaren who struggled to turn the fortunes around of a club that has struggled in the top division in England for a few seasons now.
Meanwhile, Palace travel to St James’ Park on the crest of a wave after seeing off Watford at Wembley to reach the FA Cup final next month. Pardew will be hoping for a similar dominant performance on the road this weekend particularly with Palace yet to be mathematically safe from the threat of relegation. Anything from this game is likely to remove that possible permutation.
Team News
Crystal Palace – Marouane Chamakh (groin), Brede Hangeland (knock) and Kwesi Appiah (knee) all continue to miss out. There is a concern over Wilfried Zaha who is touch and go after receiving a knock at Wembley.
Newcastle United – The treatment room is full at St James’ Park as Tum Krul (knee), Massadio Haidara (knee), Fabricio Coloccini (calf), Rob Elliot (knee) and Daryl Janmaat (wrist) are all long term absentees. Steven Taylor (muscular) and Yoan Gouffran (muscular) are both doubtful.
Action Replay
The last times these two sides met was in November at Selhurst Park and it was a far from a contest even though the visitors took an early lead courtesy of Papiss Cisse. Going a goal down only seemed to stir the Eagles into action and turned the game on its head with two goals from James McArthur and Yannick Bolasie in the space of three minutes. Wilfried Zaha added a third before the break but that was not the end of the scored. Bolasie and McArthur each grabbed a second in the 5-1 demolition of a poor Newcastle side with a beaming Alan Pardew watching on from the touchline.
Form Guide
Last six games between the sides;
- 28th November 2015: Crystal Palace 5-1 Newcastle United
- 11th February 2015: Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United
- 24th September 2014: Crystal palace 2-3 Newcastle United
- 30th August 2014: Newcastle United 3-3 Crystal Palace
- 22nd March 2014: Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace
- 21st December 2013: Crystal Palace 0-3 Newcastle United
Both Palace and Newcastle had identical form going into this match with one win and three draws from their last six matches. The hosts are unbeaten in their last three games while Palace ended their four game unbeaten run in a defeat to Manchester United.
Form Players (courtesy of Who Scored)
Yohan Cabaye (7.28), Yannick Bolasie (7.14), Scott Dann (7.06), Moussa Sissoko (7.03), Paul Dummett (6.90), Chancel Mbemba (6.90)
The Managers
‘Of course I want Newcastle to stay up. A lot of the players are close to me there. I’m desperate for them to stay up. Having said that, my job is to get three points for Crystal Palace. Rafa Benitez has got this team in a much better place to win this game and that worries me’ – Alan Pardew
‘We know we can beat anyone, especially at St James’ Park. If we show the same passion, character and intensity that we have in recent games, I think we will win matches. We need to believe because we’ve set the standard in the past few games and we need to keep it’ – Rafa Benitez
One To Watch
Chancel Mbemba
The twenty-one year old defender joined Newcastle in July 2015 from Anderlecht signing a five year deal. He impressed in his time at the Belgian club and made sixty-three appearances, scoring six goals after coming through the youth system. The Zaire born player is an international team mate of Yannick Bolasie and has twenty-two caps for DR Congo, scoring one goal. The six foot central defender has already had several rave reviews in his short time at St James’ Park and has a very promising future ahead of him in the game.
Predictions
Final league position – 19th
It has been a demise that has taken place for a few seasons now and it would be no surprise to see the club drop out of the top division in English football. It could well be the wake up call they need after several poor choices at board room level but it will be close as newly appointed Spaniard Rafa Benitez appears to has instilled some belief in a group of player that have looked anything but before he arrived in the North East.
- TEB prediction – draw
- Newcastle Stats prediction (see link below) – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
Betting Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home 19/20
- Draw 13/5
- Away 14/5
- Both teams to score 8/11
Find our what the guys at Newcastle Stats told TEB this week in The Newcastle View.
