Magpies To Be Second Best In Eagles Clash

Crystal Palace host the Premier League`s bottom club Newcastle United at Selhurst Park tonight (24th September, 8:00) in their Capital One Cup third round clash. Neil Warnock`s Palace are currently on a two match unbeaten run in the top tier of English football after coming from behind to win 3-2 against Everton and a 0-0 draw at home to Burnley. Meanwhile, Alan Pardew`s Newcastle are yet to record their first victory in the Premier League. The North East side sit at the foot of the table with three points following three draws from five games. Newcastle welcomed Palace on 30th August in the sides` first Premier League meeting of the 2014/15 campaign. The home team bouncing back from 2-0 down before late goals from Mike Williamson and Wilfried Zaha saw match finish a scrappy 3-3 tie.

In spite of their dismal league form, a John Egan own-goal proved to be the difference in the Magpies` closely fought 1-0 away win against League 1 Gillingham in the Capital One Cup second round. Palace, then under the stewardship of caretaker manager Keith Millen, sealed their place in the third stage draw by seeing off Walsall, also of League 1, in a 3-0 win away at the Bescot Stadium. A first half hat-trick from Dwight Gayle inspired the Eagles to their first win of the campaign.

Thanks to this comfortable win and the upturn in their Premier League form under Tony Pulis` successor Warnock, the home side have been installed as 6/4 (Numerous) favourites to find themselves in the pot for the fourth round. With the `Sackpardew.com` banners still haunting the long-time Magpies` boss, a number of bookmakers are offering odds of 2/1 (Numerous) on his side returning to the Tyne with some appeasement for his blood thirsty `supporters`. Twelve to five (Numerous) says that the two teams will be tied following the obligatory 90 minutes of football.

The Geordie contingent will not witness many of their familiar faces with much of Newcastle`s first-team squad ill or suffering from long-term injuries. Papiss Cisse, Yoan Gouffran and Tim Krul all fit into the former category, all out after being seen `coughing and spluttering` following their last gasp draw at home to Hull. Veteran goalkeeper Rob Elliot is set to take the place of number one Krul, whilst Pardew could hand local lad Adam Armstrong his first start of the season. The 17-year-old striker is a new addition to England`s Under-18`s and scored a brace on his debut in a 4-1 friendly win against the Netherlands at the beginning of the month. The youngster can be backed at 4/1 (betfred, Totesport) to grab his first senior goal at any time during tonight`s clash.

The away side will also be without Davide Santon (knee), Siem De Jong (thigh) and Adam Campbell (hernia) all of whom are long-term injury concerns for under-pressure Pardew. Both Siem De Jong and Adam Campbell are expected to return to the squad around the Christmas period, whilst full-back Santon is set to be out until November. The 23-year-old Italian is also allegedly a transfer target for Italian side Roma, who are said to be looking for a replacement for former England international Ashley Cole who has failed to impress since joining in the summer. The only injury worry for the London outfit is the fitness of 30-year-old Arsenal signing Marouane Chamakh. The Moroccan was sidelined in Warnock`s side`s 3-2 win at Goodison Park with a hamstring injury, and is set to miss out again tonight.

With health and injury concerns hanging over the heads of most of Newcastle`s first-team squad, we think that it will be unlikely that the Magpies can overturn the Eagles tonight. Our Best Bet award goes to Skybet who are offering 2/5 on Pardew finally relinquishing his role as boss. A bet that may come to pass sooner rather than later with a defeat here.

Go To bet365

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24/09/2014     © Frixo 2026