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Apr 30, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
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Rafael Benitez ignores "mind games" from Sam Allardyce

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez brushes aside Sam Allardyce's suggestion that Crystal Palace could roll over at St James' Park on Saturday.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has ignored Sam Allardyce's suggestion that Crystal Palace will not put up a fight in this weekend's Premier League match at St James' Park.

Sunderland boss Allardyce claimed that Palace might not be at the races this weekend after beating Watford at Wembley last Sunday to secure their place in the FA Cup final.

Allardyce said that if he were a betting man, he would put his money on Newcastle to beat the Eagles as the Palace players would have been "on the pop" since reaching the final.

"I don't bet," Benitez told reporters. "Obviously I agree we have to win. In my experience, it's the players who make the difference, not the managers. I can prepare for the game, but to talk about mind games, I don't take too much notice."

Benitez did, however, admit that some of Alan Pardew's players may have the cup final at the back of their minds.

He added: "Everybody knows what it means to play in that final. When you are there, you have to be careful. I don't see any player saying 'I don't care about the final'. I am sure they will be thinking about it.

"It's normal when you're in the final. Players are thinking if they pick up an injury, they can't play, so it's in the back of their heads."

Newcastle are 19th in the table with three matches to go, one point behind both Sunderland and Norwich City above them.

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Sam Allardyce bellows during the Premier League game between Southampton and Sunderland on March 5, 2016
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


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