Matthias Jaissle has to find the right solution at Crystal Palace as the pressure begins to mount

They are linked by a recent history of rare success but have dramatically fallen from grace of late. Now both clubs clash seeking to halt their headlong plunge into peril and save their managers.

While Newcastle United had their silver lining in the Carabao Cup, Sunday's opponents Crystal Palace went even better. Having won precisely nothing in their lives they claimed the FA Cup in 2025, followed up by winning the FA Community Shield at Wembley, beating Liverpool, and this year landed their first European trophy, the UEFA Conference League.

Of course both clubs lost their trophy-winning managers Eddie Howe and Oliver Glasner and have found this campaign a very different proposition.

It's a club record 14th successive top flight season for Palace, but they are in danger, standing a point and three positions behind 11th-placed Newcastle. Two teams in no-man's land but looking down rather than up.

A promising start for Newcastle, unbeaten in their first five matches including two in the League Cup, has given way to three defeats in the last four, all in the league. Rose-tinted glasses have been replaced by the reality of performance and results.

What exactly can Matthias Jaissle do to conjure victory on Sunday is anyone's guess. Put all names in the hat and pick out 11 would probably have as much chance of success as anything!

He needs Dan Burn as soon as the strict medical people allow him to permanently take off the cotton wool padding and there is a case for saying another 30-something veteran, Fabian Schar, could bring as much to the cause as some others of a younger age with his presence and ability to pass long as well as short. Not holding my breath though.

Some fans would call for Sean Steur. Others for Will Osula. Me? I want Lady Luck.

What is called for are big hearts and courage. Players can be scared in matches like this.

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It has been a week of soul searching at SJP. Jaissle is said to have had a 7am call with CEO David Hopkinson on the players' day off while he has also consulted with his squad over his physical demands with high press tactics.

I revealed in my Wednesday column that the German varied his team structure at Al-Ahli when they hit a rocky period while broadly still adhering to the basics of his 4-2-3-1 and it sparked an immediate upturn in fortunes. He is considering all again here though he will not stray far from his belief in his preferred doctrine.

Newcastle spent well north of £250m on eight new players in the summer and the growing concern of fans is the lack of initial impact felt for such a large outlay.

For example Aladji Bamba cost £30m but has been seen as often as Lord Lucan, while Baz Toure at £42.8m has appeared almost exclusively off the bench. Then there is the top end of the market - Matias Fernandez-Pardo has looked nothing like a £51m striker as yet and even Nico Gonzalez (£47m) has struggled to live up to his Manchester City reputation. The rest are all bit players apart from keeper Lukas Hornicek and the jury is out on him.

In all United coughed up £265.3m in replacing the blue-chip deserters which will rise to £291m if all the add-ons are reached - something that appears distinctly unlikely on current evidence.

It is not a good look when you also consider United have squandered £175m in just over a year trying to replace Alexander Isak - Nick Woltemade at a club record £69m, Yoane Wissa £55m, and Pardo £51m. What have they got for their money? A guy cast aside on loan in Italy, Wissa who has one goal in nine appearances this season, and Pardo who has yet to score. Shockingly dismal.

Palace represents the latest opportunity for some of those fees to start to be justified. It is no good talking about potential for tomorrow if fires are burning today.

Jaissle has demanded time on behalf of his new signings and I can understand that, but time is a commodity no one has in football. Least of all the manager.

United were so convinced by him that they paid £9m in compensation to get a guy they called "a rock star" and they will for now not waver believing he can turn things round. However patience can last as long as the next result and having talked a good fight this is the time for Jaissle to fight a good fight.

Ironically, Palace's new boss Pierre Sage is in the same boat as Jaissle rowing furiously against the tide.

He is accused of adopting a tactical system that doesn't suit the players at his disposal, of a front foot high press attack which leaves them easy to pick off and consequently they have leaked an incredible 17 goals, the highest number in the PL. Sound familiar?

We are only concerned about us, not them, of course and from our point of view it's Crystal clear. Sunday is the prime time to launch a recovery mission before we are engulfed by permanent doom and gloom.

The opposition provides a real opportunity before the likes of Arsenal and Brighton loom back to back. Are we good enough to take it?