Newcastle United 1-2 Crystal Palace: Eagles fight back to beat Magpies

3 Feb 2021

BBC News

Share on XTweet

Newcastle United 12 Crystal Palace Eagles fight back to beat Magpies

Crystal Palace record back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since September with victory at Newcastle.

By Saj ChowdhuryBBC Sport

Last updated on 28 minutes ago28 minutes ago.From the section Premier League

Crystal Palace recorded back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since September as they kept an attack-minded Newcastle at bay at St James' Park.

The Magpies had a handful of chances to add to the second-minute strike from Jonjo Shelvey, while Roy Hodgson's side made the most of their opportunities, turning the match around in a four-minute spell courtesy of goals from Jairo Riedewald and Gary Cahill.

Riedewald's effort trumped Shelvey's half-volley, when his 20-yard rocket took a slight deflection off Ciaran Clark in beating keeper Karl Darlow. And then in the 25th minute 35-year-old Cahill leapt highest to flick Eberechi Eze's corner delivery past the reach of the Magpies keeper. In doing so, the former Chelsea defender became the club's oldest scorer in the competition.

Andros Townsend should have made it 3-1 in stoppage time, but almost inexplicably struck his effort high and wide from four yards.

The visiting backline was busier of the two defences with Vicente Guaita producing a great instinctive block to deny Ryan Fraser and making another save to deny the Scot.

Victory sees Palace move level on 29 points with 12th place Southampton, while Newcastle remain in 16th and eight points above the drop-zone.

Whether Hodgson's side can make it a hat-trick of successes at Leeds next Monday might depend on how serious Wilfried Zaha's injury is. The Ivory Coast winger came off in the 58th minute with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Patience pays off for Palace

This fourth away win of the season in the league was the product of disciplined defending, efficiency in attack and some luck.

The Eagles had more than enough time to regroup after the early jolt from Shelvey and were thankful Newcastle's defending was not at the level it was during last weekend's win at Everton.

Hodgson's own defence was exceptional on Tuesday. Guaita once again underlined his importance in the backline when he rushed out to get enough of a hand on Fraser's strike to push it wide.

Full-back Nathaniel Clyne made a crucial challenge to deny Callum Wilson a shot on goal and Scott Dann produced a brave block to prevent substitute Allan Saint-Maximin from testing Guaita.

Another loss but Magpies on right track

Despite this eighth defeat in the past 11 league games, this was not a return to the bad old ways for Steve Bruce's side.

They set up with a similar attacking formation which reaped rewards at Goodison Park and had Palace on the backfoot for much of the match, enjoying 61% of the possession.

The only thing lacking was the same intensity they showed against the Toffees. Riedewald was given too much space to line up his shot for Palace's opener and the defence lost Cahill as he ran clear to nod in the second.

Had Fraser stuck away his chance at 2-1 when he was one-on-one with Guaita then the Magpies might have got something out of this game.

Bruce has got it tactically right now, he just needs his side to discover a cutting edge.

'Zaha doesn't normally get injured' - reaction

Palace boss Roy Hodgson speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "We knew it wouldn't be easy, but it's good to get six points from here [and Wolves].

"I thought we played well. Having seen the [Shelvey] goal back, it was a much better strike than I first anticipated. It was one heck of a strike really.

"We played well after that. At half-time I felt good about our play. But then you tend to be more cautious because you know they have to do something special and you perhaps stop asking questions. We really should have scored the third goal to put the game to bed."

On Zaha's injury: "Suddenly we are looking around wondering where all our players are. It's going to be a problem trying to get these players fit again. These injuries have to be assessed. Zaha doesn't normally get injured so it's concerning he has come off. Hopefully it's nothing serious."

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "Frustrated and disappointed as our performance didn't deserve for us to be beat. We had 10 minutes where we went too deep and let in sloppy goals. In this league that punishes you.

"Our performance levels have been better certainly over the last few weeks. We have tried to implement change in the last month or so and what you're looking for is a performance to go with it. As often in the Premier League, it's defining moments. Apart from that 10 to 15-minute spell, we had the better chances and should have taken something from the game."

No home comforts for Newcastle - stats

This was the first time Palace have won an away Premier League game after conceding the first goal since October 2019 against West Ham (2-1), having gone winless in their previous 14 such matches (D2 L12).
Newcastle have lost each of their first three home league games in a calendar year for just the second time, previously doing so in 2014 in the Premier League.
Shelvey's opener for Newcastle (71 seconds) was the fastest goal Crystal Palace have conceded in a Premier League game since Ian Taylor's strike for Aston Villa in March 1998 (1st minute).
Riedewald's equaliser was just his second Premier League goal and first since October 2020 against Fulham, ending a run of 13 games without a goal in the competition.
Cahill (35 years, 45 days) became the oldest Englishman to score a Premier League goal at St James' Park since Alan Shearer, for Newcastle against Wigan in April 2006 (35 years, 245 days).

What's next?

The Magpies host Southampton on Saturday (15:00 GMT) and the Eagles are at Leeds next Monday (20:00 GMT).

Player of the match

CahillGary Cahill

with an average of 8.33

Newcastle United