Newcastle get over line against Palace in determined display
The Magpies had to wait until the 71st minute to take the lead at St. James’ Park, in what was a scrappy encounter to start the new year.
Under Eddie Howe, Newcastle United have been a side who have always looked like scoring. However, this season there hasn’t always been that assurance that the Magpies will put their opponents to the sword with swashbuckling attacking play and a barrage of goals.
On a number of occasions they have just about got over the line, but overall they have not demonstrated the consistent aggressiveness and vigour that they once did. Against Crystal Palace, this was again the case. Newcastle did not really have full control in an attacking sense, but found a way to get the three points that sees them into the top half.
Following the full time whistle, Eddie Howe admitted that this season it has felt more a case of will his side score, not when. On this occasion they did score, netting two hugely important goals in the final 20 minutes of the match.
In keeping with the dogged nature of the game, neither goal will likely win any awards for beauty, but they went in just as the majority of a black and white persuasion were starting to worry that this might be further points dropped.
Up stepped the captain, as he has done so many times during this campaign to drag his team, and indeed the whole city, to a unified state of bliss in the cold, dark Tyneside evening.
Bruno Guimarães headed home, latching onto a ball that had been kept alive at the back post by Lewis Miley. Minutes later, pinball ensued from a Newcastle corner, with Malick Thiaw levelling up the score like a child in an 80s arcade, except this time it was game over.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner was disappointed his side again conceded from a set piece, with his side more than in the game, even at one-nil down. Once the second hit the net there was no coming back for the South London club, with Newcastle demonstrating much more maturity in seeing out a win than they have done previously this season.
The victory lifts Newcastle into the top half of the Premier League, somewhere the club has been used to in recent seasons. This year it has been slightly further from reach, much to the frustration of many, but now Newcastle are there they will aim to stay and climb higher.
Confidence will come from the Magpies gaining their first clean sheet since early November, and they know that momentum can be achieved in January with the games they have to come, despite the sheer number of fixtures that they have to play. Eddie Howe will be satisfied with this win, but he knows Newcastle must not relent.