Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered his verdict on Newcastle United ahead of Wednesday’s game at Selhurst Park.
The Magpies will go into the midweek Premier League clash feeling fresh, having not played since the 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur on April 13th.
As for Crystal Palace, they have played twice since we last kicked a ball. Last Sunday they dented Liverpool’s title ambitions with a 1-0 win at Anfield, then they followed that up with a 5-2 victory over West Ham United.
The Eagles have now secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and will be aiming to make it a hat-trick at Newcastle‘s expense.
But Eddie Howe will have benefitted from having so much time to rest and work on the training ground, while he could also be boosted by the return of Callum Wilson. The striker is now back in training, having missed the last two months with a pectoral injury.
His return is a big boost for Newcastle United, who should be a bit fresher heading into Wednesday night’s game.
What Crystal Palace expect from Newcastle United on Wednesday
That is certainly what Oliver Glasner is expecting, having spoke to Crystal Palace’s official website after their emphatic 5-2 win over West Ham on Sunday.
The 49-year-old has discussed the upcoming game with Newcastle, and has hinted at why it could be a very tough game for his side.
“The players, how they started the game [vs West Ham] in the first 30 minutes, were really amazing,” he said.
“It was nice to watch for a manager. It was an excellent performance, but now the game is played. The game is played, we have the three points, and it’s our first back-to-back wins of the season.
“Now it’s the third one in a row against Newcastle [we are aiming for], and this will be a big challenge. They will be fresh, so we have maybe the same situation as West Ham today [having played in midweek], a little bit tired legs. Of course, we take a lot of positive things from the game today, but stay focused for the next challenges.”
Fixture list could help Newcastle
As Glasner says, Newcastle should be fresh for Wednesday’s game. They will not have played in more than a week, and that should give Howe’s players a great opportunity to recharge their batteries.
It is a rare sensation for the Magpies, given how relentless this season has been due to Newcastle’s Champions League and domestic cup commitments.
It could give Howe’s team an advantage, although Glasner will be eager for his players to build on the momentum they have built up and keep riding that wave. They have picked up six points when they probably expected to get zero, and should be full of confidence when Newcastle arrive at Selhurst Park.
What Newcastle’s recent record at Selhurst Park is like
But Newcastle’s recent record away to Palace is nothing to write home about. Our last two trips to Selhurst Park have resulted in draws.
However, we did win there in 2020 when the Premier League was being contested behind closed doors. Callum Wilson and Joelinton scored in a 2-0 win for Steve Bruce’s side, back when the latter was still considered a forward.
Before that, our last Premier League win away to Palace came in December 2013. Alan Pardew was the manager, and he orchestrated a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and a Danny Gabbidon own goal.
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