AS if they have not suffered enough in the last few weeks, things are about to get even worse for supporters of Newcastle United. Tomorrow afternoon, they will have to watch their former boss, Alan Pardew, leading out Crystal Palace at Wembley. Suffice to say, he’s taking the cup competitions seriously now.

Pardew’s disdain for Newcastle’s cherished cup pedigree was one of the main sticks that he was beaten with as his relationship with the St James’ Park support disintegrated prior to his departure in December 2014.

The Palace boss will claim his hands were tied once Mike Ashley decided the cups ‘were not a priority’ because of the potential for a negative impact on Newcastle’s league form, but there is still a perception that Pardew could have made a much better fist of fighting his corner.

Instead, in his four years as Newcastle boss, he presided over five FA Cup ties and lost four of them. Defeats to Stevenage, Brighton (twice) and Cardiff represent an abject record for a top-flight side, robbing the Magpies of an opportunity to enjoy the kind of cup run that has transformed Crystal Palace’s season. By acquiescing so meekly to the demands of those above him, Pardew only succeeded in undermining his own position to the point where he was forced to walk away.

Clearly he is operating in a different environment now, but perhaps he has learned his lesson. With his Palace side having suffered the same kind of slump that afflicted so many of his Newcastle teams in the second half of a season, Pardew’s position might well have been hanging by a thread had he not been preparing for his club’s biggest game since their last FA Cup final appearance in 1990, when he was part of the side that lost to Manchester United in a replay.

“The history we take into the game is one final which we lost, so this team, this group of players, have got the opportunity to put something permanent there, and that is the first major trophy for Crystal Palace Football Club,” said Pardew, earlier this week.

The Northern Echo:

Already revered thanks to his playing career at Selhurst Park, Pardew, who has agreed a new £2m-a-year contract, stands on the brink of becoming one of Palace’s greatest icons. His hopes of becoming England boss, regularly expressed during his time in the North-East, might have disappeared, but he could still end tomorrow as only the third English manager to have lifted the FA Cup during the Premier League era.

His opposite number in the Manchester United dug-out, Louis van Gaal, could finish the weekend without a job. His future has been the subject of fevered discussions for most of the campaign, but if the Old Trafford hierarchy are to dismiss him, they will surely have to do so soon.

Will winning the FA Cup protect him in the wake of last week’s failure to qualify for the Champions League? Possibly not. But in terms of altering the mood music on the red side of Manchester, a first FA Cup win since 2004 would help appease some of the more vocal protestors who have been agitating against van Gaal in recent weeks.

The Dutchman has not won anything with Manchester United, and in a season when Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all failed to collect silverware, an FA Cup success is not to be sniffed at. As Sir Alex Ferguson will willingly attest, all dynasties have to start somewhere.

“For Manchester United, this is a big title,” said van Gaal, whose last winners’ medal of any description came courtesy of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga success in 2010. “Especially now as it was a long time ago.

“The FA Cup is a big title here in England, and we are playing in the most prestigious temple of England (Wembley), so everything confirms how important this cup is.”

The Northern Echo:

Manchester United will start as favourites, and for all of their perceived recent struggles, they have only lost two of their last 13 matches in all competitions, with those defeats coming at the hands of an in-form Tottenham and in the emotional final match at Upton Park.

Wayne Rooney looks much more comfortable in his withdrawn midfield role – he was the man-of-the-match by a distance in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth – and while he is not quite at Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard levels yet, his ability to break into the box has added a welcome new string to Manchester United’s attacking bow.

Marcus Rashford continues to impress in attack – today’s game could be crucial to the 18-year-old’s hopes of persuading Roy Hodgson to take him to Euro 2016 – and Anthony Martial has already proved adept at excelling on the biggest stage.

Palace’s threat is less proven, although Pardew also boasts match-winners in his ranks. Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon have flattered to deceive on a number of occasions this season, but on their day, all three are capable of inflicting considerable damage. Dwight Gayle and Emmanuel Adebayor started Palace’s final league game, but former Sunderland striker Connor Wickham should return tomorrow.

Palace’s key player is likely to be Yohan Cabaye, which once again brings us back to Newcastle. Cabaye was part of the Newcastle team that suffered a fourth-round defeat at Brighton in 2012, but was ‘rested’ when the Magpies crashed to a 2-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium in the third round 12 months later. No doubt Pardew will be treating him rather differently tomorrow.