Crystal Palace v Newcastle - Premier League match preview
Eagles v Magpies Newcastle look to get back to winning ways this weekend at Selhurst Park as they take on Crystal Palace.
Last weekend we slipped up against Southampton and although a draw was probably a fair result on the day I still can't shake the vision of Loic Remy's hideous miss out of my mind. On another day...
Still these things happen. I was watching the reaction on Match of the Day and two of the greatest strikers the Premier League has ever seen (Thierry Henry and our own Alan Shearer) admitted to misses such as that which is good enough for me. It's done now, and at least there is the chance to rectify things against Crystal Palace tomorrow.
The Eagles have been improving though and new boss Tony Pulis has made them harder to beat in much the same way Stoke were under him so don't expect an easy ride. They've won their two home fixtures to date under Pulis and will be eyeing up another win after running Chelsea close at Stamford Bridge last weekend. They are fighting for their lives and for us to get anything we must match that fight and let our ability do the talking.
Crystal Palace:
Jack Hunt, Glenn Murray, Jerome Thomas and Adlene Guedioura are all out while Kagisho Dikgacoi, Stuart O'Keefe and Jonny Williams will face late fitness tests ahead of the match. However Dean Moxey should be available.
Newcastle:
Yohan Cabaye returns after missing out the draw against Southampton through suspension. However Moussa Sissoko and Cheik and Cheik Tiote are just one yellow card each away from following Cabaye and missing a match.
Aside from Ryan Taylor, Newcastle have a fully fit squad to choose from.
Previously...
You have to go back to our season in the Championship to find our list visit to Selhurst Park. We ran out 2-0 winners with goals from Ryan Taylor and Kevin Nolan giving us the victory.
In the Premier League we've played four times at Selhurst Park and we've won all four matches. The last victory for Palace on their own soil came in 1984 in the old Second Division.
Overall there have been 32 matches played between the two sides. Newcastle have won 20, Palace have won eight with the other four ending in a draw.
Stats and facts...
Arguably the two form players in this match used to play on the same team at Bordeaux. Marouane Chamakh (four for the season) has scored in Palace's last three games while Yoan Gouffran (six for the season) has scored five goals in our last eight games.
Palace haven't scored against Newcastle in any of the last five meetings between the two sides.
Newcastle have the same points tally at this stage of the season as they did in 2011/2012 when we finished 5th.
Palace have scored fewer goals (11) and have picked up fewer yellow cards (16) than any other side so far this season.
Final thought...
Alan Pardew will return to a club which holds fond memories for him and where fans hold high opinion of him after scoring a famous FA Cup Semi-Final goal for the Eagles against Liverpool back in 1990.
However those memories mean nothing to me and I'm looking at what is best for my team. We possess everything we need to win the game but we need to show it on the day. For some reason though I have a niggling worry about this match and just hope the slip up against Southampton has brought the players down a peg or two after the win at Old Trafford.
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 21st December, 2013
Time: 3pm
Venue: Selhurst Park
