Crystal Palace host fellow relegation battlers Newcastle with both sides keen on a victory which would pull them nearer to safety.

Palace started the season with four straight losses but have improved since Roy Hodgson took charge.

He said: "Things are different from when we last met Newcastle (a 0-1 defeat in October). We were so far divorced from safety at that stage and now we aren't.

"It's foolish to think our problems are at an end, we've just given ourselves a chance.

"To concede that late header last time was a major blow.

"We lost a point and gave Newcastle all three. (I'm) expecting a tight game."

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez knows his side are in for a tough afternoon.

"They are a good team with very good players," he said.

"It is a difficult stadium and a difficult place to get points. But we must have confidence we can do it.

"It is very close at the bottom and for us it is another challenge to survive."

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