Newcastle United have been given support in their bid to avoid the drop - from former manager Alan Pardew. Pardew left the North East to takeover at Crystal Palace at the turn of the year - and the Magpies have picked up just 10 points under interim head coach John Carver since. Amazingly, Newcastle were on 26 points and in 10th place when Pardew decided to move back to London but the Magpies are now in 17th and have just 36 points. Alternatively, Palace were stuck on 16 points and down in 18th place when Pardew took charge, and they are now up to 12th on 42 points. The Magpies have plunged down the Premier League since Carver took over the reins and they face already-relegated Queens Park Rangers on Saturday before hosting West Ham United in their final game of the season. Newcastle are just two points and a single position ahead of 18th-placed Hull City with two matches remaining. One of Aston Villa, Leicester City, Sunderland, Hull or Newcastle will join already-relegated QPR and Burnley in the Championship next season - and Pardew "hopes" it won't be his former side. Speaking during his press conference ahead of Crystal Palace's visit to Liverpool on Saturday, Pardew said:
"I don't think Newcastle will go down. "It's a strange scenario where they've found themselves. I made some great friends in Newcastle and I really hope they get over the line this weekend."
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