Newcastle United are in desperate need of a win as they currently reside just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

Rafael Benitez's side have Brighton, Stoke City and Huddersfield Town between themselves and the drop, but they remain in a precarious position given the slim points gap.

In the Magpies' last five games, the team have lost just the once, but they only picked up a single victory in that run.

The other three fixtures ended in draws, which makes Sunday's showdown against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park that much more important.

Some fans were left deflated when the club announced that referee Andre Marriner has been appointed as the man in the middle.

The official has overseen three of Newcastle's matches so far this season, and all of them ended in defeats for the North-East outfit.

The first was the opening-day 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, in which Marriner sent off Jonjo Shelvey.

It is safe to say that some Newcastle supporters are not brimming with confidence for this weekend's match.

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