Northeast v London, Toon take on Eagles, Mackems make QPR trip

Coral writers preview northeast duo Newcastle United and Sunderland, who take on Londoners Crystal Palace and QPR respectively, with all four sides looking for their first wins of the Premier League season.

Newcastle v Crystal Palace
The Magpies have gone eight matches undefeated against the Eagles (since 1998) in all competitions, winning seven of them, and that’s why they are odds-on favourites at 8/11 to beat them again.

In seven of those fixtures, Newcastle kept clean sheets, and they are 21/20 to shut Palace out here. They scored exactly twice, meanwhile, in five of those encounters, and are priced at evens to get two or more goals once more.

Neil Warnock has been appointed the man to replace Tony Pulis, though, and he arrives to St James’ Park with a point to prove, after a somewhat unfinished first spell with them. The Yorkshireman can take heart from the fact Newcastle have won just one of their last 10 Premier League matches, and is 4/1 to guide his side to a victory, or 5/2 to get a point.

Warnock will be able to call upon new recruit Wilfried Zaha (on loan from Manchester United), who also returns to the London side, but back recent scorers Marouane Chamakh and Dwight Gayle this term in the anytime market. The Moroccan (9/4) netted against West Ham, while Gayle (11/4) hit a hat-trick in the Capital One Cup against Walsall.

No player has scored for Newcastle this term, meanwhile, but all of new signings Ayoze Perez, Siem de Jong and Emmanuel Riviere are 5/4 to net anytime.

QPR v Sunderland
QPR have beaten Sunderland just once in their last 12 attempts, which happened to be in the duo’s most recent meeting in the 2012/13 Premier League season. The Hoops (6/4 for victory) won that battle 3-1, and are 25/1 to record that scoreline again, but face Gus Poyet’s undefeated side.

Sunderland (9/5) can boast draws with West Brom and Manchester United so far from their first two league games this term, and are 9/4 to make it three on the trot. QPR are so far pointless this season, so will take a point as well.