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Last April Newcastle brought the thrills against Crystal Palace, putting five past Oliver Glasner’s side at St James’ Park, the victory closed by an Alexander Isak special. How things have changed. At Selhurst Park this time round, the visitors succumbed to a third successive defeat, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty in injury time adding to the misery for Eddie Howe and his team.
William Osula’s close-range finish before half-time, against the run of play, had put Newcastle in front if not in control. They looked short of rhythm even with the lead, still on the mend from sapping defeats last month by Barcelona and, crucially, Sunderland.
Palace seized upon this energy, with Glasner introducing Mateta off the bench in the second half. The 28-year-old Frenchman headed in the equaliser with 10 minutes to play and his second was set up by some silly shenanigans in the area. Sven Botman pulled Jefferson Lerma’s shirt to prompt the spot-kick; Mateta slotted in to settle the contest.
Newcastle had blown another lead, just as they did in the Wear-Tyne derby. “It’s blighted our season, the fact that we haven’t been able to, not just consolidate good passages of the game, but go on and score more goals and continue to attack,” said Howe. “That’s not the tactical instruction we give the players, we don’t want to go 1-0 up and change to a mentality of defending, but we’ve done it. But then if you are going to defend, we have to defend better than we did.”
There was annoyance with how things went at the other end, too. “We turned down a lot of shooting opportunities today, which frustrates the life out of me.”
The noise over Howe’s future will grow louder, Newcastle’s uncertainty on the pitch mirroring their situation off it. The big names entering their prime – Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon – are getting the rumour mill treatment. Kieran Trippier, the first signing under their Saudi owners, is on the way out. There is no cup still to play for before the potential break-up.
Palace, on the other hand, have a bit of pep, life already hunky dory after their Conference League rout of Fiorentina at home. They find themselves within touching distance of a European semi-final, handing Glasner a real chance to leave this summer with another trophy. There is a certainty here. Glasner’s confirmed departure will follow Marc Guéhi’s in January and Eberechi Eze’s last August. The core that won the FA Cup is being dismantled, but there is still the prospect of one final, joyous night out.
Howe made six changes from the team that lost to Sunderland three weeks ago, his bench spelling out the season’s difficulties: Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, signed as Isak left the building, began as substitutes, Osula leading up top. “I don’t pick the team based on transfer fees,” said Howe. “I have to pick the team based on what I see.”
There was little for the centre‑forward to run on to in the early moments, Maxence Lacroix and Jaydee Canvot close enough to whisper sweet nothings into his ear, Palace comfortable for most of the opening half.
Aaron Ramsdale was the first keeper to be tested properly, diving to his left to stop Yéremy Pino, who launched from the edge of the area, and reacting well to deny Daniel Muńoz on the rebound. Canvot headed over from a corner as Palace continued to threaten.
Yet it was Osula and Newcastle who were celebrating just before half-time. Some tidy work on the right set up Lewis Miley for a low cross. Lacroix failed to adequately intercept and Osula, lurking behind and already on the ground, untangled his legs to slot in for his third league goal of the season. The 22-year-old’s confidence boost showed immediately, a stepover winning him a free-kick before the whistle.
He very nearly had another five minutes after the break when Chris Richards failed to control a backpass. Osula burst into the area but Dean Henderson made himself big. Glasner, rotating his side as they navigate their European adventure, made the big switch after the hour mark. On came their prized assets: Adam Wharton, Ismaïla Sarr and Mateta, on the way to Milan two months ago but now pivotal to the run-in.
The equaliser very nearly arrived from Lerma. Pino sent in a teasing free-kick from the right and the midfielder, free at the far post, could not keep his header down as it crashed off the crossbar.
Well on its way, the leveller was created by the rampaging wingbacks. Muñoz’s cross from the right found Tyrick Mitchell, who opted for a lobbed ball to Mateta. Calm amid the penalty-area chaos, he headed in. The resurgent striker had the final say not long after.
