Newcastle travel to take on Crystal Palace on Saturday (12.30pm ET; 5.30pm GMT), but can they make it three wins on the spin following their late victory over Fulham last weekend? Or can the hosts bounce back after failing to win any of their last four in all competitions?
This NUFC vs CPFC predictions, preview and betting picks article aims to answer those questions.
Crystal Palace snatched a late draw with a stunning injury-time free kick by Michael Olise against Manchester United in the EPL on Wednesday. It ended a run of defeats for Patrick Vieira and his Crystal Palace team. In their previous encounter, try as they might, they could not breach the Chelsea goal, and when push came to shove, they were not strong enough to hold on for a point. That defeat came after the crushing blow of losing by four goals to nil at home to Spurs. It is now four games without a win in all competitions for Saturday’s hosts, who picked up their first point of 2023 in that encounter with Man Utd on Wednesday.
After what can be described as a minor blip by their own very lofty standards this season, Newcastle bounced back when beating Leicester in the EFL Cup last week, a win which set them up nicely for their home assignment against Fulham. The Cottagers are another team that has impressed this season, so it was not going to be easy for the Toon, and easy it was not, as they huffed and puffed and just about got across the line with an 89th minute winner from summer signing Alexander Isak. He was scoring for the first time since returning from an injury that kept him out for three months.
Woes of an attacking kind
Under Vieira, Crystal Palace are quite a sturdy unit. They are not easily pushed aside, while they know how to fight and stay in a game, especially at home. However, they have struggled to pick up positive results in recent weeks. Why? Well, they simply cannot get involved enough in the final third, at least not in a serious, tangible nature.
In their last two games before the World Cup break, Palace failed to score, while since returning, they have scored in just three out of six, scoring a total of four goals. In the Premier League, the Eagles have scored just three goals in their last half dozen games, which is worrying. Even at home, they have slowed down offensively. Though Wednesday’s draw against strong opposition should give them a boost.
You cannot lay the blame entirely at the feet of Palace’s strikers, oh no. It’s a creativity problem too. You would think that Palace, with Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in their ranks, would make light work of creating chances, but they have been one of the worst teams in the division in that respect. Only Bournemouth have created less expected goals than the men from Selhurst Park.
Sturdy visitors
While Saturday’s hosts struggle to score, the Magpies continue to make light work of shutting teams out. Yes, they did stutter slightly when conceding twice against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, but they were not at full strength, while in the Premier League, they have now kept a rather remarkable five clean sheets on the bounce.
More impressive still is the fact that they have conceded just three goals in their last ten league games, conceding more than once in none of those ten. That stat becomes even more impressive when you realise that they have played four top-six teams during that time.
Even on their travels, Newcastle United can keep teams at bay. They shutout the runaway league leaders Arsenal in their last away game, while they have conceded just six away goals all season. No team has conceded fewer traveling goals in the Premier League this term. Given Palace’s offensive problems, a match against the Magpies is not exactly what the doctor ordered.
Rarely much between the pair
It recent times, Newcastle and Palace have often been locked together in some tough battles on the pitch, and there has not often been much between them. They last met back in November, when Newcastle eventually came out on top via penalties after drawing 0-0 in the EFL Cup. Two months before that, they drew 0-0 in an EPL game at St. James’ Park.
In fact, three of the last four renewals of this fixture have ended all square, including when the pair last met at this venue back in late 2021. There is also a lack of goals when the pair lock horns, with less than three goals being scored in each of the last four meetings, as well as in nine of the last ten.
Goals to stay away from Selhurst Park
Whichever way we look at this fixture, it is easy to feel that there will be a lack of goals, so much so that ‘Both Teams to Score – NO’ is temptingly priced in the early betting.
For starters, the host are really struggling for goals, which is bad news for them since their visitors have become incredibly good at keeping the door shut. At the same time, the hosts are not terrible at keeping things tight themselves, which lends itself to a lack of goals, especially since the visitors, strong as they are, have slowed down in the final third of late. Do not forget it took Newcastle until the 89th minute to score last time out, while they have failed to find the net in two of their last three in the league.
Moreover, when the pair recently met in the EFL Cup, neither could score. Low-scoring games, where at least one team fails to score, is something of the norm for this fixture. So do not be surprised if we see a dull affair take place, at least in terms of goalscoring action.
So, for the betting predictions and picks against the sports betting sites for American players, this NUFC vs CPFC preview settles on the one advised wager:
Bradley Gibbs writes on MLS and other global soccer leagues for USA Betting. He also pens betting guides and strategy. Bradley has written for numerous sites and publications including Just Bookies and the Racing & Football Outlook.