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Match preview
Half way through the season, Newcastle United currently occupy one of the coveted Champions League spots, so will they be able to maintain their excellent form?
Last Sunday, the Magpies, just about, beat Fulham 1-0 at St James’ Park.
Aleksandar Mitrović squandered a penalty for the Cottagers, kicking the ball onto his other foot, before, in the very last minute, Alexander Isak headed home the winner from a mere picometre out.
Eddie Howe’s team are now unbeaten in 14 Premier League games, the longest streak in the division, winning nine of their last 12.
This leaves them fourth, five points clear of Tottenham, having played a game less.
This forthcoming Tuesday, the Toon Army will be in Southampton for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, the club’s first appearance in the last four of any competition for 17 years.
Crystal Palace meantime were in action as recently as Wednesday night, in a game that featured a dramatic conclusion.
They were 1-0 down at home to Manchester United entering stoppage time, only for Michael Olise to thwack a free-kick in off the crossbar, thereby pinching a point.
This was a much-needed goal for Patrick Vieira’s side, who’d lost four of their five league games beforehand, only beating Bournemouth since 6 November.
These two clubs have already played out two goalless draws this season, both on Tyneside, in the league in September and in the League Cup two months later.
The last top-flight English clubs to play out three 0-0s within the same season are Everton and Wimbledon in 1992/93.
This might explain why just 3,039 people turned up to their clash at, coincidentally enough, Selhurst Park almost exactly 30 years ago.
This was the lowest-attended Premier League game of all-time, before Covid-19 changed all of that.
While a scoreless draw would be historic, Newcastle are likely to ruin all of that by winning this Saturday night clash.
Crystal Palace team news
Patrick Vieira is currently searching for that winning formulae, starting Odsonne Édouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta together for the first time ever on Wednesday.
Here, Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp could come into the XI to add extra work out.
Meanwhile, at the back, with Joachim Andersen out injured, USA international Chris Richards will keep his place, following a solid Premier League debut on Wednesday.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Guiata; Clyne, Guéhi, Richards, Mitchell; Doucouré, Hughes, Schlupp; Olise, Ayew, Zaha.
Newcastle United team news
Newcastle’s XI has been settled all season, although they did suffer a set-back last weekend, with Bruno Guimarães hobbling off.
The Brazilian is only set to be sidelined for week and not months, but he leaves a large void in midfield.
Without him, Joelinton is likely to return to a more central role with, possibly, Allan Saint-Maximin starting for the first time since August.
Jacob Murphy is the other wide option, or Eddie Howe could deploy both Callum Wilson and last weekend’s match-winner Alexander Isak together.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schär, Burn; S Longstaff, Willcok, Joelinton; Almirón, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
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Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United: Match statistics
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