Report & Highlights: Palace beaten by Newcastle at Selhurst

The Eagles were the stronger of the two teams in the first-half, but ultimately beaten by a spell of dominance from Newcastle after the restart, William Osula and Harvey Barnes getting the goals for the visitors from close range.

Summary:

• Palace unchanged from midweek draw in Istanbul.
• 3: Eagles have an early opportunity but ball doesn’t fall for Disasi or Mateta.
• 7: Kamada’s effort almost falls kindly into the path of Mateta.
• 20: McNeil shoots low across goal – but clears both man and post.
• 43: Disasi attacks Pino’s in-swinger, but can’t quite make contact.
• HT: Palace 0-0 Newcastle
• 47 – Goal: Osula attacks the near post and taps home from Murphy’s cross.
• 52: Newcastle appear to strike again through Willock, but VAR rules it out.
• 58 – Goal: Barnes lashes in Dedic’s low cross to double Newcastle’s lead.
• 62: Palace make two changes as they look to get back into the game, Nketiah and Osorio on.
• 63: Wharton’s piledriver tests Hornicek from the edge of the box.
• 71: Osorio’s knuckleball strike from distance is turned around the post.
• 85: The Chile international bends over from the edge of the box.
• 90+9: Nketiah heads narrowly wide with the last touch of the game.
• FT: Palace 0-2 Newcastle

Palace had shown impressive composure to dominate amidst the febrile atmosphere of Beşiktaş Park in midweek, with only a pair of clinical finishes denying them a first UEFA Europa League win in a 2-2 draw in Istanbul.

Some 60 hours later, an unchanged starting XI lined up to face Newcastle United at Selhurst Park, the Eagles looking to make it back-to-back home Premier League wins.

In truth, as can often be the case after a European away day, the game took some time to ignite – a combative first-half ensuing, but one light on clear opportunities.

There was one after three minutes for Palace as captain Adam Wharton clipped a free-kick in, Axel Disasi won the first header, and it almost popped up for Jaydee Canvot.

The ball didn’t sit but fell towards Jean-Philippe Mateta – the visitors clearing after a goalmouth scramble, with Newcastle ‘keeper Lukáš Horníček also getting a touch to it.

Four minutes later, another breakaway: Dwight McNeil, making his first Premier League start since the opening day of the season, broke from deep and squared for Daichi Kamada, whose shot across goal – scuffed – again almost fell kindly for Mateta, but ultimately drifted wide.

That energetic start paved way to a slightly more attritional contest, but the Eagles continued to create the better opportunities – some fine work from Tyrick Mitchell and Yéremy Pino down the left working the ball towards McNeil, who dragged a low effort across the face of goal.

Chances proved few and far between for the remainder of the half, although the best continued to go Palace’s way, Pino’s in-swinger attacked by Disasi – but the ball drifted through to Hornicek.

No goals in the first half – but, sadly, that all changed with a spell of Newcastle dominance at the start of the second.

Within two minutes of the restart, Jacob Murphy, appearing to run down a cul-de-sac, dug out a fine curling cross towards the near post and William Osula – on the charge – got across his man to tuck Newcastle into the lead.

Moments later, the visitors thought it was two, Joelinton prodding through for Joe Willock, who finished across Walter Benítez – only for VAR to rule it out.

And Palace’s task became that much harder when Newcastle worked it well around their box, Amar Dedić crossed from the overlap on the right-hand side – and Harvey Barnes lashed home from near the penalty spot.

Palace were stunned, but looked to mount a response with the introduction of Eddie Nketiah and Dario Osorio from the bench near the hour mark.

And the latter was involved seconds later in a bright moment, playing some quick passes near the Newcastle box – which ended with Wharton testing Hornicek with a fine spin and strike from the edge of the area, tipped around the post.

Indeed, Osorio was the real bright spark in the closing stages, testing Hornicek again with a fine ‘knuckleball’ style strike from 30 yards, the ‘keeper again palming it away.

Newcastle managed the remainder of the half well, although Osorio had a half-chance again with five minutes remaining, bending over from Pino’s lay-off.

It simply wasn’t to be for Palace, who ultimately could not fashion a route back into the match, despite Nketiah going close with a header from the last touch of the game.

Palace: Benítez (GK), Richards, Disasi, Canvot, Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino, McNeil (Osorio, 63), Mateta (Nketiah, 62).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Lerma, Mingueza, Chilwell, Hughes, Doucouré, Guessand.

Newcastle: Hornicek (GK), Dedic (Thiaw, 90+5), Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Joelinton (Steur, 85), Murphy, Willock (Ramsey, 77), Barnes (Elanga, 77), Osula (Wissa, 77).

Subs: Pope (GK), Botman, Bamba, Toure.