Palace v Newcastle commentary and teams: Magpies first test since Steve Bruce exit

Bruce was handed his marching orders on Wednesday just days after he oversaw his 1000th game as a manager in the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham.

His dismissal, which took place a week after a £305million takeover at the club, comes with Newcastle just one point above bottom and without a win this season.

Palace meanwhile are looking to bounce back after throwing away three points on Monday by conceding a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle: talkSPORT commentary

This Premier League clash will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday, October 16.

Dan Windle will be your presenter and commentary will come from Ian Danter, former Arsenal winger Perry Groves and ex-Newcastle and Crystal Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose.

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Crystal Palace v Newcastle: Team news

The hosts will be desperate to recall talisman Zaha who missed the Emirates stalemate through illness after returning from international duty.

Viera said: "Since he came back from international he wasn't feeling well at all and he didn't have any kind of training with the team so we decided to leave him at home.

"He's getting and feeling better but wasn't good enough for him to be part of the squad today."

Nathan Ferguson and Ebere Eze continue to make good progress with their recoveries from Achilles injuries but the pair will not be rushed back into first-team action.

Newcastle meanwhile will be without the suspended Jonjo Shelvey following the red card he picked up in the defeat to Tottenham.

The Magpies have a clean bill of health otherwise with Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock and Callum Wilson all returning from injury on Sunday.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle: Match facts

Crystal Palace have won three of their last five Premier League games against Newcastle (L2), more than they had in their first 15 against them in the competition (W2 D5 L8).

Newcastle have won just one of their last six away Premier League games against Crystal Palace (D3 L2), though it was in this exact fixture last season (2-0).

Crystal Palace are looking to go unbeaten in their opening five home league matches of a season for the first time since 1996-97 in the second tier, last doing so in the top-flight back in 1990-91.

Newcastle have failed to win any of their first eight Premier League matches of a season for only the third campaign, finally winning their ninth game in 2015-16 and their 11th in 2018-19. The Magpies were relegated at the end of that 2015-16 season.

Newcastle have lost more Premier League away games in London than any other side in the competition (81). However, the Magpies have won six of their last 12 top-flight visits to the capital (D1 L5).

Crystal Palace have drawn five of their eight Premier League games this season, including each of the last three in a row. It's the most draws a team has had at this stage a Premier League campaign since 2014-15, when both Arsenal and Sunderland had five draws in their first eight.

90% of Crystal Palace's Premier League goals this season have been scored in the second half (9/10), the highest ratio in the division. Meanwhile, no side has shipped more Premier League goals after half-time than Newcastle this term (11).

Newcastle have kept just three clean sheets in their last 25 Premier League games, with each of these shutouts coming against the three relegated sides last season. The Magpies have conceded more goals than any other Premier League side so far this season (19).

After netting in his first two Premier League games against Newcastle in 2013, Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke has failed to score in his last nine against the Magpies in the competition.

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson has scored five goals in his last five Premier League games, more than he had in his previous 18 (4). He's looking to score in three consecutive league appearances for the first time since a run of four with Bournemouth in September 2019.