BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has delivered his prediction for Newcastle United’s clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Magpies welcome Roy Hodgson’s side to St James’ Park, looking to bounce back from Monday’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. Lawrenson believes they will do just that with a 2-1 win as they will play a bit more adventurous.
“Newcastle played OK in Monday’s defeat by Arsenal – looking fairly secure, but not exactly posing much of a threat,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website. “It almost felt like they were trying to keep the score down, which isn’t unusual for manager Rafael Benitez.
“I would expect the Magpies to be a bit more adventurous on Saturday, and I can see them edging this one. But both of these teams are safe anyway. It would be a massive shock if either of them went down.”
OPINION
Lawrenson is right, this season has essentially run its course for both these teams. Cardiff City look the best bet to join Huddersfield Town and Fulham in the Championship next time out, and if anyone were to get dragged in with the Bluebirds it would likely be Burnley, Southampton or Brighton & Hove Albion. Newcastle, on the other hand, should feel pretty good about their survival chances. Having said that, they would be doing themselves a world of good with three points over their direct rivals in the Premier League table here. Palace are a good attacking side and very dangerous on the break, so Benitez will be wary of being too attack-minded, despite what Lawrenson says. He’ll go for it more than Monday, of course, but he’s never going to go hell for leather. This will be a very evenly-matched contest and so it could go either way, but at home you’d have to go for the Magpies.
