Eagles Attack on the Magpies

Straight from the start on the 2nd minute, Jonjo Shelvey put Newcastle ahead when Almiron beat Scott Dann to cross the ball to Wilson who headed it down into the path of Shelvey who hit it hard and low from outside the box and beat Guaita to make it 1-0.

Newcastle had the chance to make it two in front when Fraser poked the ball into the box, with the help of a flick-on from Wilson the ball found its way to the path of Hedrick who scooped it wide. Palace nearly got back into the game when Eze from the left fed the ball through to Ayew but Clark gets a touch to knock it behind for a corner which comes to nothing.

What an audacious effort from Calum Wilson in the 18th minute. Fraser gets the ball out wide and whipped it in for Calum Wilson who attempted a scorpion kick but unfortunately, it went over the bar. Then in the 21st minute, Newcastle's good start stopped there. Clark stabs the ball out of the feet of Ayew but the ball rolled into the path of Reidewald who smacked a thunderbolt into the back of the net, taking a touch of Clark at the rubber met thread. 1-1.

It went from bad to worse for the mags there when Lewis brought down Ayew out wide, Eze took the free-kick which was met in the air by Cahill, beating Karl Darlow to turn the tide at St James Park. 2-1.

Things almost got even worse in the 27th minute when Clyne put in a cross which was touched on by Batshuayi into the right foot of Zaha and saved by the sprawling Darlow. But it was ruled out for offside in the initial pass into Clyne. Newcastle almost levelled things three minutes later when Shelvey played a one-two with Wilson. Stumbling Shelvey managed to play the ball to Fraser who hit a tame effort comfortably gathered by Guaita. Then four minutes later Wilson played in Fraser who was in on goal. Fraser chose to hit the ball first time but couldn't catch out Guaita who made the save.

In the 37th minute, Almiron had a good position from a free-kick when Wilson was brought down at the edge of the area. Almiron hit the ball which deflected off Scott Dann and out of play for a corner via the crossbar. Fraser then put in the corner which found Schar but it appeared that the strong winds took it wide. Last effort of the first half came for Newcastle when Almiron played the ball to Schar who hit the ball just wide of the goal. Half Time. 1-2.

Straight out from half time Palace seemingly went 3-1 but it was ruled out for offside when Batshuayi played in Zaha who slotted the ball past Darlow. Saint-Maximin came on for Hendrick who had a quiet game, and in the 66th minute, Maxi used his abilities to get past the defence and play the ball to Wilson, frustratingly Wilson couldn't get the shot away as Clyne managed to recover back and knick the ball off Wilson. Into the 72nd minute, Fraser found himself out wide on the right. Fraser crossed the ball into the area which beat the head of Scott Dann and found Jonjo Shelvey who couldn't add to his early goal in the first half. It was a similar situation two minutes later when Fraser picked out Schar in the box which was on target but gathered into the mid-drift of Guaita.

The Geordie boys were beginning to become frustrated after the 80th-minute mark with Dann bringing down ASM on the edge of the area after turning Clyne at the corner flag. The referee ruled no foul despite the screams of the Frenchman. Four minutes later proved more evidence from Schar when he shot high, wide and not very handsome at all. Shelvey did the same two minutes later. In the 90th minute, it really should have been 3-1 when Reidewald played the ball square to Townsend, with the net gaping and free of a goalkeeper, Townsend hit the ball on his weaker, right foot and went out wide. It honestly looked harder to miss. 94th minute. The clock was ticking, it was added time upon added time. Shelvey played a good cross into the box that found Andy Carroll. The perfect man. The perfect moment. It was now or never. The connection was poor and gathered comfortably by the keeper. Full time. Newcastle 1-2 Crystal Palace.

It's so hard to be positive after a defeat but the Mags were the better team. More chances on and off-target. Apart from the Shelvey goal, nobody could take their chances. Crystal Palace had three good chances that were onside and managed to take two of them. It was a mixture of unluckiness and a lack of composure. Now onto Saturday where Newcastle take on Southampton who today have just been utterly humiliated by Manchester United. But make no mistake. The Saints will be coming to St James Park looking for Blood.

By Sam West.

By Sam West. towards the Palace area and hit the ball high,