A huge three points - Crystal Palace 0-2 Newcastle
Relief for Matthias Jaissle as Newcastle responded to back-to-back defeats with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
It was a worrying first half, featuring more of the same concerns at both ends of the pitch, but quick-fire goals from Will Osula and Harvey Barnes did the damage in what was a much improved second 45.
The win stops the rot after 4-1 defeats to Leeds and Coventry in our last two away trips, securing our first victory since returning from the international break and our second clean sheet of the season.
We move up to 7th in the table, for now at least, and head into a double-header against Everton with a much-needed lift as we prepare to face the Toffees in league and cup over the next eight days.
Newcastle United XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Schär, Burn (c), Hall; Gonzalez, Joelinton; Murphy, Willock, Barnes; Osula.
Subs: Pope, Botman, Bamba, Wissa, Thiaw, Steur, Touré, Elanga, Ramsey.
Five changes but a first half to forget
Jaissle made five changes from last Saturday's defeat to Villa. Dan Burn and Fabian Schar came in at centre-back, Amar Dedic and Jacob Murphy came back in down the right and Will Osula started up top, seeing Botman, Thiaw, Miley (minor knock), Fernandez-Pardo (ill) and Wissa drop out of the side.
We can look back more favourably now, but that doesn't change how poor we were in the first half. Open at the back once again, sloppy on the ball, unable to play through midfield, no patterns of play out wide and our striker has had just four touches in the opening 35 minutes.
No shots on target, no identity and not fun to watch, all while we handed Palace seven shots in the opening 10 minutes; a worrying stat considering the Eagles are bottom of the Premier League for efforts towards goal so far this season.
Too much of our passing was slow, sloppy and hit in hope, not expectation it would find a teammate. Schar was wayward, the gaps in midfield continued, there was no cohesion to our attacks and we were too easy to play through once again, even against a slow Palace side lacking pace in attack.
Mags step up in second 45
Thankfully, things changed in the second half, as we finally woke up with a moment of quality. Murphy's delivery was superb, Osula poked home with a first-time finish, and we'd scored with our first shot on target! Scenes of relief as the players celebrated in front of the away end, although more celebrations were cut short minutes later as Willock's strike was chalked off for a marginal offside.
But we'd not be denied a second for long as we doubled our lead on 58 minutes. It was slick football and a far cry from the first half once again, as Murphy slipped in Dedic before his cut-back was swept home emphatically by Barnes. His goal sixth goal involvement of the season, Dedic's fourth assist in 11 outings for Newcastle and 2-0 to the Toon, giving us some welcome breathing space at a windy Selhurst Park.
Hornicek played his part with key saves to deny Wharton and Osorio from range, with the second stop particularly impressive to keep us 2-0 up heading into the final 20 minutes.
Three changes followed from Jaissle, as Osula, Barnes and Willock were replaced by Wissa, Elanga and Ramsey in the closing stages, seeing the latter pair make a welcome return from injury. Sean Steur and Malick Thiaw also came on late, as Joelinton and Dedic were taken off in the closing stages.
And that was that, as an out-of-sorts Palace side had nothing in response, with Pierre Sage losing the battle of two under-pressure managers as the full-time whistle was followed by boos from the Palace faithful.
Hornicek played a key role in goal with a few vital stops, Dedic's return added some drive down our right, Hall was his usual self at left-back and Gonazlez showed his class with his best display since his debut at Spurs.
Next up, Everton away in the Carabao Cup on Thursday before a Premier League meeting with David Moyes' side a week on Monday.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
