Newcastle United will be looking for a rare victory away to Crystal Palace when they make the trip to Selhurst Park for Friday's Premier League clash.
The Magpies are winless in their last five top-flight visits to the ground and could do with ending that run on the back of successive 2-0 league defeats.
Palace are two points better off than their opponents, despite going down 1-0 to strugglers Burnley in their first game back after the international break.
Match preview
It was perhaps the lack of any real attacking impetus, rather than the scoreline itself, that angered Newcastle supporters on the back of their loss to Chelsea on Saturday.
United managed a solitary shot on target, instead focusing on getting players back behind the ball in an attempt to frustrate Chelsea - a tactic that worked for all of 10 minutes.
Indeed, Steve Bruce's men have had fewer shots (71) and fewer shots on target (21) than any other side in the Premier League so far this season.
It looks like being another season of frustration for Newcastle, who are seemingly destined to finish in mid-table, too good to go down but not good enough to challenge for Europe.
That is reflected in their opening nine matches - three wins, four defeats, two draws. The problem for United is that only one of those wins has come in their last five games.
A trip to Crystal Palace may seem like a good fixture to put things right on the face of it, but the Eagles have only lost one of their last five home Premier League matches.
The Eagles beat Leeds United 4-1 there last time out, although that impressive result was followed up by a 1-0 away loss to Burnley last weekend.
Much like Newcastle, Palace seem unable to find any sort of consistency. In fact, Hodgson's side have alternated between victory and defeat in their last four league games.
Going by that trajectory they are due a victory against Newcastle, but they are winless in all 12 of their top-flight league games played on Fridays (D5 L7).
Given the compact nature of mid-table, three points for one of these sides could make all the difference in getting supporters fully back on their side.
Crystal Palace Premier League form: LDWLWL
Newcastle United Premier League form: WLDWLL
Team News
Wilfried Zaha had to withdraw from Palace's squad to face Burnley after testing positive for coronavirus and he is expected to also sit out this match.
Eberechi Eze stood in for Zaha at Turf Moor, but Roy Hodgson may be tempted to field the versatile attacker further forward to accommodate for Jeffrey Schlupp's return.
Palace were poor against Burnley and further changes can be expected, including at the back, with the Cheikou Kouyate and Scott Dann partnership potentially being broken up.
As for Newcastle, they will hope to have Jamaal Lascelles back available after he limped off midway through the defeat to Chelsea.
Bruce's tactics have been heavily criticised but a back three - or, more likely, a back five - can be expected once again on Friday.
Callum Wilson's possible return would be a major boost up top, having scored six times in eight league games since joining from Bournemouth in the summer.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Clyne, Sakho, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Townsend, McArthur, Riedewald, Schlupp; Eze, Batshuayi
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Murphy, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis; Almiron, Shelvey, Hayden, Saint-Maximin; Wilson
We say: Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United
As well as going five league games without defeat at home to Newcastle, Palace have also won two of their last three overall in this fixture.
Newcastle have drawn three of their last five away league games going back into last season, however, and we can see this latest meeting ending all square.
Top betting tip
Video prediction
Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:
body check tags ::
Previews by email
