Newcastle Toons
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How Newcastle United’s schedule compares to relegation rivals

By Declan Ryan

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Christian Atsu of Newcastle celebrates with his team after their second goal scored by Mohamed Diame of Newcastle during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United at London Stadium on December 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Christian Atsu of Newcastle celebrates with his team after their second goal scored by Mohamed Diame of Newcastle during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United at London Stadium on December 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Luka Milivojevic of Crystal Palace in action during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Burnley at Selhurst Park on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Luka Milivojevic of Crystal Palace in action during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Burnley at Selhurst Park on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

18th – Crystal Palace

Remaining fixtures: Huddersfield (15th), Liverpool (4th), Bournemouth (12th), Brighton (11th), Watford (10th), Leicester (8th), Stoke (19th), West Brom (20th)

Having perhaps the worst injury list of any side in the Premier League this season, the return of star-man Wilfred Zaha certainly offers a glimmer of hope to Palace’s survival chances, even despite a run of four straight losses.

Blessed with the easiest schedule of the bottom eight, Roy Hodgson will have to face an opposition averaging only 12th, including what could be a dramatic final two fixtures against 19th and 20th place Stoke and West Brom respectively.

Liverpool are the only top-six side Palace will face the rest of way, and fixtures against Brighton, Watford and Leicester could definitely swing their way if those sides get too comfortable in their mid-table obscurity. Roy Hodgson has vast experience in the Premier League, and even if Palace are relegated, it would be difficult to say that the ex-England manager was 100% responsible.

With such an advantageous schedule, warning signs should be sent to Newcastle and others that the relegation zone is not finalised at all. Injuries could cost Palace in the end, but at least on-paper they should be able to pull off what would be a miraculous survival story given their abysmal seven-game goalless streak at the beginning of the season.