The first of our many evening fixtures in the back end of 2020 sees the Toon coming up against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Steve Bruce has finally listened to the fans and dropped the five at the back system in favour of a more conventional 4-4-2 with the enigmatic Karl Darlow keeping his place between the sticks, supported by a back four consisting of Manquillo, Clarke, Fernandez and Jamal Lewis. Shelvey returned to the side in the centre of midfield alongside Sean Longstaff. Hendrick also found his way back into the starting eleven in the right of the midfield, Almiron occupying the left. Joelinton keeps his place in the side playing up top with Callum Wilson who also returns from injury. The most notable absentee is Allan Saint-Maximin who misses the game due to a hamstring injury he picked up in training in the build-up to the fixture.
The lads started the game positively, playing further up the pitch than we've seen in recent weeks. Joelinton was the standout outfielder in the first half, having four shots with only one on target, a tame effort comfortably gathered by the Palace keeper Guaita. Unfortunately, his short stint of good form ended in the twenty-fifth minute after a surge forward saw Joelinton pushed off the ball picking up a slight injury. Joelinton came back on but didn't look the same.
Later in the first half, Newcastle backed off to let Palace into the game where the hosts had some good possession and created some decent chances, forcing Darlow into two good stops.
The second half began quite end to end, and very physical. Both teams going at it and winning free-kicks in decent positions. Shelvey had the first free-kick in which he hit the ball into the wall. Patrick Van-Aanholt a very recognisable figure in the North East having stints at both Newcastle and our bitter rivals Sunderland had a similar free-kick at the other end again hitting the wall.
Newcastle fans would have welcomed the return of Matt Ritchie in fine voice had fans been allowed back into the stadium, as he came on for Miguel Almiron. It didn't take long for Ritchie to get into the game as he played a sublime ball into the box but unfortunately it was mistimed by Joelinton. Ritchie's best effort came in the form of a free-kick when he played the ball short to Jamal Lewis who laid it off for a thunderous strike by Ritchie stinging the palms of the keeper.
Palace came close with efforts from Schlupp and Benteke. Cheikhou Kouyaté tested the Newcastle defence when he seemingly became clear one on one in front of Darlow, and out of nowhere, Federico Fernandez made a sensational block to keep the scores level. But it was the clinical number thirteen for the Toon Army, Callum Wilson who stained the scoresheet first, played in by Joelinton, Wilson took a touch and slotted the ball past Guaita. 1-0 Newcastle.
After claiming the assists precisely one hundred seconds later Joelinton gets a goal for himself. Picking the ball up on the right-hand side, Joelinton dribbled the ball into the box turned the ball onto his left, beating Scott Dann, Joe pulled off a scrappy shot which deflected off Gary Cahill and beat the Palace keeper to make it 2-0.
Joelinton was substituted most likely to a virtual standing ovation from all the Geordie fans in their living rooms. On came Fabian Schar to preserve the clean sheet and the Magpies came away with all three points.
On a personal level, I am delighted with this win as it is the first win I can report on since writing for NFTV. most of my articles have been quite negative so it is a pleasure to be writing after victory. I hope I get to write many more articles like this one.
Final score
Crystal Palace 0-2 Newcastle United
Howay the lads
Happily written by Sam West.
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