Opposition briefing: Everything you need to know about Newcastle United

Match previews

15 Feb 2025

Crystal Palace make the long trip up north on Wednesday night (19:30 BST) to face Newcastle United at St. James' Park - check out all you need to know about our latest opponents below!

Factfile

Manager: Eddie Howe
Current Position: 4th
Nickname: The Magpies
Ground: St. James' Park
Founded: 1892 (133 years ago)

What’s the story?

Newcastle’s season is already one of the history books on Tyneside. Last month, the Magpies ended a near 56-year wait to win a major trophy - and a 70-year wait to win a major domestic honour - after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley.

The party and the aftermath of that success, could have led some to question whether Newcastle's form would have dropped off for the rest of the season. But three wins on the bounce since the cup final have them firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place - particularly considering that fifth place will now be enough to claim qualification.

Newcastle's aim at the start of the season, was to be back into Europe once again. And a Conference League spot is already assured after the Carabao Cup win. But if they are to repeat magical nights like the victory against Paris Saint-Germain last season, they have to be with Europe’s elite.

They face fierce competition in the face of Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa, in a race that should go to the wire, but you wouldn't back against Eddie Howe's side on current form.

In Alexander Isak, they have one of the Premier League's most in-form strikers, while a midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton have looked solid over recent weeks.

The boss

The first managerial appointment of Newcastle’s new ownership, Eddie Howe made his name at Bournemouth, guiding the club from League Two into the Premier League.

He earned Champions League qualification with Newcastle in his first full season in the north-east, only a year after taking them away from the relegation zone. After a slight dip in form last season, he is hoping to guide them back into Europe this time around.

Before Newcastle's win over Manchester United last time out, news broke that Howe had been hospitalised and would not be in the dugout. The club later confirmed he had been diagnosed with pneumonia and is currently recovering.

Assistant manager Jason Tindall and coach Graeme Jones will lead Newcastle for both the game against Palace, and Aston Villa at the weekend.

Boot in both camps

French international Yohan Cabaye was an instant Premier League hit upon his arrival at Newcastle from Lille.

The heartbeat of a side that finished 5th in 2011/12, Cabaye was also a scorer of memorable goals, including a stunning free-kick against Manchester United. He then earned a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain, before joining Crystal Palace a year later. He spent three years at Selhurst Park and started in the 2016 FA Cup final.

Andros Townsend had a brief spell at Newcastle after leaving Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, spending six months at St James’ Park before joining Crystal Palace, where he would make 185 appearances.

‘Crystanbul’ hero Dwight Gayle went in the other direction, spending six years on Tyneside, mainly under the management of Rafa Benitez. Gayle formed a key part of the team that won the EFL Championship under Benitez, scoring 23 goals in 32 league games that year.

His first ever goal at St. James Park though, actually came against the Magpies for Palace, in a thrilling 3-3 draw back in August 2014.

Former Eagles Patrick van Aanholt and Wayne Routledge also spent time in the north-east, part of the Newcastle's Championship-winning class of the 2009/10 season.

Record against Palace

Palace are looking to complete the season unbeaten against Newcastle, after a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in November, following Daniel Muñoz's dramatic late equaliser.

That made in four games unbeaten in-a-row against the Magpies at Selhurst Park. Palace were last victorious against Newcastle during that run, when Jean-Philippe Mateta's brace proved the difference at Selhurst Park just shy of a year ago.

Our last visit to St. James' Park ended in a 4-0 defeat in October 2023. By contrast, the Eagles' most recent win at the ground coming on a stormy night in February 2021, during the behind-closed-doors 'Covid season.' Efforts from Jairo Riedewald and Gary Cahill secured the three points on that occasion as Palace came from a goal down to win.

2 minute highlights: Crystal Palace 2-0 Newcastle Utd

Did you know?

Their badge is inspired by an Ancient Greek myth. Or is it Roman? Etruscan? Phoenician? It’s on their logo, anyway.

The crest on the famous black-and-white shirts is inspired by the city’s coat of arms, and features two grey hippocampuses – or it could might be hippocampi – on either side. The creature is depicted with the upper body of a horse and the lower body of a fish. “Err, so a sea horse?” we can hear you ask. “We have those already.” But no, this is (apparently) different.

As well as Newcastle, hippocampi feature on the lampposts of Dublin, on the logo of Air France and at the base of the Trevi fountain in Rome. Talk about range…

Newcastle walk out to a Dire Straits number – well, almost. Mark Knopfler was brought up in Blyth from the age of seven, forming the world-famous band with his younger brother David and going on to sell more than 120 million records.

But by 1983 – just two years before the release of the legendary Brothers in Arms – he was developing his own music on the side, and composed the soundtrack to Scottish drama Local Hero. The eponymous song is now played before every home game at St James’ Park, with Kopfler re-recording a special version in 2014 for charity.

Alongside Local Hero is the Geordie Folk Song Blaydon Races, which greets the sides as they emerge. ‘Ahhh me lads, ye shudda seen us gannin’ and all that…

Match details

Wednesday, 16th April
19:30 GMT
St. James' Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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