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George Bennett

Crystal Palace boss highlights key area to improve ahead of Newcastle United clash

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has highlighted the key area that his side must improve ahead of their EFL Cup third round tie against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

The Eagles travel to St James' Park with four wins from their last six games (D1, L1). They defeated Oxford United 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium in the previous round and visit Tyneside for the second time this season.

Palace registered a goalless draw against the Magpies in September, and Vieira has called on his attackers to be more clinical in the final third, despite their strong run of form.

"The performance always gives you more chance of winning football matches, but at the same time there is still other parts of the game that we need to improve," Vieira revealed in his pre-match press conference.

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"Before we got the goal [in Sunday's 2-1 win at West Ham], we created chances and got in positions but we hadn't scored. When you are in a good period in the game you need to take those chances and this is something we have to improve."

Vieira has been impressed by how his team has competed on the road (bar the 3-0 defeat against Everton), but expects a 'difficult' test against a Newcastle side who are unbeaten in their last nine.

The Palace boss added: "We are looking forward to it. It is a competition we want to take seriously.

"Going to Newcastle, with the way they are playing at the moment, makes it even more difficult but we had a draw there and competed really well against them. Again, we are looking forward to competing."

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