Palace v Newcastle United

Selhurst Park, Wednesday 8.00pm

Alan Pardew

Story so far

This match will see Alan Pardew facing his former club for the first time since his departure, and he will be keen to show his former employers what they are missing. Pardew will hope that his side can clinch a fourth victory in five league matches to ensure that they sit just two points behind Newcastle going into the weekend.

Pardew will need his side to be in top from, in particular shot-stopper Julien Speroni, who is going in search of back-to-back clean sheets. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that Speroni’s form has been vital to The Eagles this season, having made 57 saves already this term at an average of 1.68 saves per goal conceded. He will hope to further extend that ratio with another clean sheet to help kick-start another winning run for Palace.

At the back, Martin Kelly has continued to be the stalwart in defence for Palace, as demonstrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Kelly has won 85.2% of his 88 tackles already this season, also racking up 100 clearances and 34 interceptions.

Up top, Dwight Gayle has prospered under his new manager, and will once again have the chance to prove himself as a natural goal scorer against Newcastle. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index tells us that his five goals have come at an average of just 157.6 minutes, also hitting the target with 64.3% of his 14 shots and turning 55.5% of those into goals. He is 12/5 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Newcastle will come into this match optimistic of victory having picked up four points from their last two matches, and scoring four goals in the process. Newcastle will want to ensure that the focus is on their football rather than becoming embroiled in a battle of wits against their former manager, Alan Pardew.

Newcastle will look to keep their defence solid, and will be looking to left back Daryl Janmaat to set the standards at the back. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that the Dutch full back has won a squad 63 tackles already this season, winning 75% of his overall tackles. He has also made 60 clearances and racked up a squad best 54 interceptions, and will look to get Newcastle on the front foot by starting counter-attacks with his reading of the play.

In the middle of the park, Jack Colback will be hoping to win the battle of the engine rooms, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates why he will be confident of doing so. Colback has covered a squad best 268.95km already this season, and will hope that his fitness will see him dominate in midfield. He has also pinched possession 49 times this season, and will prove a threat on the ball having scored three times and laid on five assists.

The man that he will look turn provider for, is Newcastle’s Senegalese international striker, Papiss Demba Cisse. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that his nine goals this season have come at an average of every 74 minutes, turning 40.9% of his 22 shots into goals. He is 51/20 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

Team news

Palace skipper Mile Jedinak is doubtful of playing after suffering with a sore ankle sustained on Asian Cup duty with Australia. Marouane Chamakh is is still recovering from a broken nose. Yannick Bolasie returns to the squad after helping DR Congo finish third at the African Nations Cup.

Newcastle midfielder Siem de Jong could make a comeback after being sidelined for more than five months with a torn thigh muscle. Cheick Tiote is available after his African Nations Cup jaunt with the Ivory Coast but has an ankle problem, while fellow midfielder Rolando Aarons (hamstring) is out.

Palace (from): Speroni, Hennessey, Ward, Kelly, Mariappa, Hangeland, Souare, Dann, Delaney, Bannan, Guedioura, Mutch, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon, Zaha, Bolasie, Gayle, Sanogo, Chamakh, Campbell, Gayle, Ameobi

Newcastle (from): Krul, Alnwick, Janmaat, Dummett, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, R. Taylor, Anita, Abeid, Sissoko, Cabella, Colback, De Jong, Gouffran, Ameobi, Obertan, Cisse, Riviere, Perez.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"It’s a home game against my old team and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve still got all my staff there that I took [and] my players - they are close to my heart - it will be strange.

"Because after four years of breathing and living every part of that football club and city - good and bad - it’s kind of emotional. It will be a slightly different game for me.

"I’m not expecting or hoping for any reaction from the fans because we had some great times together. It was not so great the last year but on the whole my experience there was great. I felt I did a good job. I can walk out there with my head held high."

Dwight Gayle

"It was always going to be tough but Leicester gave us a good game. Luckily we got the win in the end hopefully we can push on from that.

"After the game the gaffer just said to keep our feet on the ground because we’re still in the scrap. It has given us a bit of confidence and belief, and hopefully in the next few games we can get away from the bottom three and push on.

"There are a lot of games we need to win still, plus there are real hard games at the end so we need to get these points as quick as we can really to make sure we’re not fighting for it at the end.

"It was a proper good battle from us and Leicester. You could tell it was a fight at the bottom but I felt both teams had bright spells where they did well and could have got the result.

"Luckily we scored and were on top and also kept the clean sheet, which was good for the defence."

John Carver

"Both Alan and our old analyst know us inside out and back to front – so he does have a bit of an advantage.

"He'll have a surprise up his sleeve, there'll be something out of the ordinary that he'll throw in during the game, he's a bit like that.

"But in the four or five games I've seen of Palace I can see his stamp being put on the team.

"They've got a good team - they've got a good group of players and because he's a good coach he's getting the best out of them. I haven’t been at all surprised by how well he’s done already.

"They’re on a high and the stadium will be lively. They've got a fanatical support, which we all know about, but a lot of Geordies live in London and they seem to turn out when we're down there."

Newcastle United - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
11th	24	8	7	9	31

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
24/09/2014	League Cup	Crystal Palace	2 - 3	Newcastle United
30/08/2014	League	Newcastle United	3 - 3	Crystal Palace
22/03/2014	League	Newcastle United	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
21/12/2013	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 3	Newcastle United
27/01/2010	League	Newcastle United	2 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 2-3 Newcastle United

Wednesday September 24 2014

Palace: Hennessey, Fryers, McCarthy (Gray, 90), Hangeland, Mariappa, Williams (Kaikai, 80), Guedioura, Bannan, Zaha, Gayle, Doyle (Johnson, 71)

Subs not used: Ward, Kelly, Price, Ramage

Goals: Gayle (pen 25), Kaikai (90)

Bookings: Bannan

Newcastle United: Elliot, Dummett, Taylor, Janmaat (Haidara, 48), Coloccini, Armstrong, Obertan, Colback, Ameobi (Sissoko, 67), Abeid (s/o 100), Riviere (Perez, 81)

Subs not used: Alnwick, Cabella, Ferreyra, Anita

Goals: Riviere (36, pen 48), Paul Dummett (112)

Bookings: Abeid, Elliot, Haidara

Sent off: Abeid (100)