Alan Pardew will be looking to get one over on his former employers this weekend as his Palace side host Newcastle United in what is a rather important game for both sides.

Crystal Palace will be looking for a win after what was a disappointing night at Selhurst on Monday evening, as Sunderland snatched three points.

At home this season Palace has really struggled to break down opposition and with Newcastle languishing in a precarious position at the minute, you do expect them to come to Selhurst and be a bit cautious.

So again the onus will be on Pardew’s side to break them down, and get that vital first goal which was the bane of the Eagles on Monday night.

Even though Palace defeated Liverpool a couple of weeks back, they have only taken four points from their last five games; and if they have aspirations to progress to the next level, games against the likes of Newcastle have to be considered as three points.

But Palace’s record against the Magpies hasn’t been great, in fact the Eagles are without a win in 11 league and cup matches (D3 L8).

But speaking before the game Crystal Palace’s assistant manager Keith Millen spoke about the former connections with Newcastle:  "We have an insight into their individuals but we don't know what team they will play."

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Pardew does have a few injury concerns; Bakary Sako will miss the game after pulling his hamstring in the defeat against Sunderland, and Dwight Gayle might also miss the game due to a hamstring injury.

But Palace can call upon Marouane Chamakh and Connor Wickham after they were both involved in the game on Monday night.

The Opposition - Newcastle United

It hasn’t been the best of times for Steve McClaren in Tyneside this season; the negativity surrounding Newcastle just doesn’t seem to want to budge.

And in many areas people are saying the former England manager is fighting a losing battle. Last weeks’ poor home defeat to Leicester showed just what a gap there is between Newcastle and the sides in the top ten.

And with the club in 17th position coming into the busy Christmas period, you begin to wonder whether McClaren can lead the Magpies out of danger.

But speaking in his pre-match press conference he said:  "I have had a great week on the training field. It's been feisty, it's been competitive, intense, energetic - really all the things that we were lacking last Saturday, so it's been a good week and I hope we take that preparation into tomorrow's game."

The big problem for Newcastle has been the amount of goals they have conceded this season; in nine of their 13 league matches they have let in two or more goals – it is some stat, and if Palace get it right tomorrow, Newcastle could well be onto another beating.

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The former Derby County manager has had to deal with some long-term injuries to key players; and Tim Krul, Rolando Aarons, Steven Taylor, and Gabriel Obertan are all still out, as is Massadio Haidara.

Midfield enforcer Chieck Tiote has been labelled a doubt in some media outlets and in others fit, so we will have to wait and see if the Ivorian plays at Selhurst tomorrow.

If Palace can crack what you expect to be a tight Newcastle side, they should have enough firepower to put Newcastle to the sword; but if it goes the way the Sunderland game did, the Magpies certainly have a chance of nicking something.