Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has hailed his side’s game against Newcastle United as “an exciting challenge”, claiming that there is no reason why Eddie Howe’s squad should not be one of the teams challenging for the Premier League title this season. Victory over the Eagles would see the Magpies move eight points clear of Tottenham in fourth place. Howe will know how much of a challenge that Vieira’s side pose, having drawn 0-0 against his team both in the league and Carabao Cup at St James’ Park this season. The former Arsenal midfielder’s men will be on a high after they drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Wednesday night, yet the Frenchman himself is all too aware of how difficult it will to find a way past the team with the best defensive record in the Premier League this season.
Patrick Vieira said: “It will be a really good challenge. I strongly believe that with the way they perform there is no reason why they can’t believe in themselves to be part of the teams who have a chance [of winning the league]. This is a team who play with a lot of intensity. This is a team who are physically really strong. It will be important for us to match that level of competitiveness. We played there [at St James’ Park] twice, it was challenging but we managed not to concede goals and to play some good football at times. It will be important to focus on ourselves and try to score goals. It will be difficult because of how good they are defensively, but we create enough chances to score goals. It is a team that believes in themselves and in the way they want to play the game. It is clear that [they know] their roles and responsibilities on the field. They are having a good run, they are in a good period, and it will be an exciting challenge for ourselves.”
