adminChris Sutton is backing a 2-2 draw between Crystal Palace and Newcastle on Sunday, cautioning that Matthias Jaissle’s team are still too open following our loss to Aston Villa.
The BBC pundit has at last got off the mark in The Sutton Scorecard this season, having correctly tipped Villa to win at St James’ Park last weekend.
Sutton worries Palace will exploit Newcastle’s press
In his latest BBC Sport predictions, Sutton defends Pierre Sage before focusing on Newcastle:
“Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage’s position looks a little uncertain, but his critics appear to have forgotten that they sit 14th in the table, when the Eagles finished 15th last season under Oliver Glasner.
“Yes, Palace suffered a heavy defeat at Brighton last week, and it doesn’t help that it came against their big rivals, but it’s not as though Sage has taken just one point from his first seven games. They are conceding a few goals, but there are reasons for that.
“There has been enormous change at Selhurst Park in recent months, with some key players departing, particularly in defence. Others have stayed but remain unhappy, and Sage has had plenty to deal with.
“Palace play in Turkey on Thursday night, which won’t help their preparation for this game, but I still feel they will get something against Newcastle.
“There has been a lot of change at the Magpies too, but what worries me most about Matthias Jaissle’s side is how open they are.
“‘Chaotic’ was the word I used to describe them against Aston Villa last week.
“Villa are always very well structured in the way they play, but they created chances against Newcastle simply by persisting with their build-up play.
“If Newcastle don’t get their press quite right again here, then Palace will cause them problems too – I definitely don’t see this game as one where defences come out on top.”
Sutton’s prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Newcastle.
Palace have since drawn 2-2 away at Besiktas on Thursday night, leaving them a quick turnaround before Sunday’s 2pm kick-off at Selhurst Park.
The Sutton Scorecard 2026/27
His 3-2 Villa prediction in last week’s edition became our 1-0 home defeat, ending a run of six incorrect calls. That earns him two points for the right result with the wrong scoreline. An exact score earns five points, while a wrong result gets zero. Predictions scored: 7
Exact scores: 0
Correct results, wrong score: 1
Wrong results: 6
Total points: 2/35
After conceding 14 goals in seven league games, we’d bite your hand off for a scrappy Newcastle win and a clean sheet on Sunday.
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