Crystal Palace vs New Castle: A battle for Victory

The Premier League action will be taking on the Selhurst park with a Crystal Palace side that defeated Manchester united last week and takin on Newcastle United today. The two teams have faced  off 53 times across competitions since their first meeting in the FA Cup in 1907. Newcastle have been the better side in these matches, leading 30-12.

Crystal Palace attmepts for victory

Crystal Palace are defeated in their last four games across competitions but held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in their last encounter on Wednesday. Michael Olise scored the equaliser in injury time after Bruno Fernandes had given the Red Devils a 44th-minute lead.

Palace have seen under 2.5 goals in 12 of their last 13 games against Newcastle across competitions. Palace are winless in their last three home games in the Premier League, failing to score in two.

The Magpies have scored just four goals in their four games since the resumption of the campaign last month. Considering the recent history between the two teams and their current form, Newcastle should take out a narrow win and also keep a clean sheet.

As for Crystal Palace, the Eagles come into this game off the back of a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Wednesday night, courtesy of a sensational stoppage-time free-kick from Michael Olise.

Influential defender Joachim Andersen missed Wednesday’s draw at Selhurst Park against Manchester United due to a calf injury and will miss the game. Otherwise, Palace managed to get through their most recent game unscathed, and boss Patrick Vieira will almost have a complete pool of players to pick from.

That stalemate at least managed to stop the rot, snapping a three-game losing streak for Patrick Viera’s 12th-placed side, and the Frenchman will be hoping that result will serve as a catalyst as they look to move up the table when Newcastle comes to town.

New Castle to defend the victory

Newcastle, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League games. They snapped a two-game drawing streak with a 1-0 home win over Fulham on Sunday. Alexander Isak scored an 89th-minute winner after coming on as a substitute.

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Palace, winning 3-2 on penalties when they last met in the League Cup in November.

Newcastle have kept a clean sheet in their last five Premier League games. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six away league games, keeping three clean sheets.The visitors have the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding 11 goals in 19 games, while Palace have conceded 27.

The Toon left it late against Fulham at St James’ Park last weekend and were lucky with former Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic making a fuss of a penalty kick, but the hosts controlled the game overall and were duly rewarded with a very late winner thanks to substitute Alexander Isak.

Newcastle are not backing or slowing down in their aim of top-four finish in the Premier League, and their dominance this season has been primarily. The Magpies have lost only one of their opening 19 games, and they possess the league’s best defensive record, having conceded just 11 goals.

While a title push still looks out of reach for Eddie Howe’s men, they do have a five-point buffer on fifth-placed Tottenham, so, at the halfway stage, Champions League qualification is well within their grasp.

With Manchester City coming from behind to beat Spurs 4-2 the day prior, Saturday’s clash represents an opportunity for Howe’s side to open the gap on the Lilywhites to eight points with a win, as well as leapfrog Manchester United into third, at least until the Red Devils face Arsenal the following day.

Newcastle and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw in the reserve fixture earlier this term, where the Magpies were denied a perfectly good goal due to a terrible officiating decision. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides this Saturday, The Hard Tackle takes a look at both sides.

On the other hand, Newcastle also deals with the injured players. Other long-term absentees, James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson, also remain out through injury.