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Season 2023-24
Crystal Palace (a) Premier League

 


Date:
Wednesday 24th April 2024, 8pm
(not on live UK TV)

Venue:
Selhurst Park

Conditions: Ruffled

Programme: £3.50

 

Crystal Palace

Newcastle

 

2 - 0


 

Teams

Goals

Half time: Eagles 0 Magpies 0

55 mins Emil Krafth's hoof upfield from the left back position fell to Joachim Andersen on halfway and he played it forward to the unattended Eze. Both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn were tempted towards Jean-Philippe Mateta as he received a pass on the edge of the box; his first-time pass back to Jordan Ayew on the edge of the box matched by the Ghanaian's return ball.

That set Mateta free on goal and he rattled the ball past Dubravka from a position roughly level with the penalty spot at the Holmesdale End.
0-1

88 mins
Elliot Anderson played a short pass infield from halfway on the United right to Longstaff, who was instantly challenged by Jeffrey Schlupp and fell over. The ball ran back over halfway towards the visitor's goal and was taken on by Will Hughes, who reached the edge of the box before spraying a pass out to the overlapping Schlupp.

Hughes continued his run towards the near post and took the ball in his stride when it was pinged to him, helping it on to the arriving Mateta, who shot home from close range through the legs of both Burn and Dubravka. 0-2

Full time: Eagles 2 Magpies 0

We Said

 
Eddie Howe said:

"It's very disappointing, from the high of Spurs to the low of tonight. We started well for two minutes. We were disappointing in most aspects of our play and we have to take responsibility for that. The match unravelled into an uncomfortable feeling.

"We gave the ball away too much, we didn't attack well and if baffled me that we were reluctant to shoot. None of our game was in a good place.

"Disappointed especially with the first 60 minutes. We were nowhere near where we wanted to be. Disappointed with our technical performance today, we are usually better than that.

"It was a difficult game for us. We were below our best levels. Crystal Palace played well. It was a high-pressing game, we were both trying to high press each other but they more effective with their game than we were.

"We're disappointed. We came alive a bit in the second half and had moments and opportunities but we weren't good enough.

On a downturn in performance after a break: 

"That's always a fear. We worked to try and make sure that wasn't a factor in the game - Crystal Palace were better than us today. We can't make excuses, we're going to blame ourselves and try to come back better."

On Sean Longstaff's penalty appeal: 

"It's a 50-50 call. If the referee gives it, he doesn't overturn the decision with VAR. He obviously didn't think it was a penalty at the time and we have to respect that."

On Callum Wilson's return after a 10 game absence: 

"Callum's return is more than welcome and he gave us a different dimension when he came on today."


On Tino Livramento:

"Tino is still struggling with his ankle - that's why he didn't come onto the pitch. He was there for an emergency really. Can he play at the weekend? I'm not sure. We certainly don't want to give him a long-term problem. He's technically fit enough to be able to enter the pitch, but it's sort of high risk."

On the prospects of European qualification:

"It's still on. We're still in the mix but we can't play like we did today if we're going to maintain our push to be in the European places. There's certainly a lot to reflect on.

"There is a big opportunity for us, we can't let
(our season) peter out and we've got a big chance to quickly bounce back."

They Said

 

Oliver Glasner:

"It was a great performance, so all the credit to the players today for the performance, for the energy, for the intensity, for the offensive way of playing, always trying to score goals.

"Of course it's a good feeling also now to have completed mission number one – staying in the Premier League mathematically – so it's a good feeling, and I hope that the players get addicted to winning games, to this feeling, to these emotions. Today, it was really a very good performance.

"They are showing what they're able to do. I told you when I arrived we are not magicians, so we can just encourage them and get their qualities on the pitch. We also have to say ‘thank you’ to the players for the trust they gave us from day number one, because we changed many things. They were always listening, they were always working hard, they gave us the trust and believed in what we were telling them.

"We had many opportunities to score in the first games, but we didn't have the results and they were still trusting us, still listening to us. It shows the character of the players, and that's what’s helped us.

"It's great to see how the players can play. When I saw the first 30 minutes, I was so impressed by the intensity we played with. I was really scared – it’s not a joke – I was really scared if they continued playing like this that we’d have to make 10 substitutions in minute 60, because I couldn't believe what I saw.

"There were moments Newcastle didn't get out of their half and it's Newcastle playing for the European League, playing in the Champions League this season. There's a lot of quality, there's a lot of speed and how they work together is really amazing.

"This is the way we want to go together and it's a lot of effort, it's a lot of discipline, it's a lot of hard work and the players are doing it, so that's why I say all the credit to the players, because we're just telling them what they have to do – and they’re doing it really well.

"For me, it's important to stay humble for all of us, because there are always tight decisions. Maybe if we conceded a penalty it would be 1-1 at that time, and it was when Newcastle were maybe a little bit fresher because they didn't have a game three days before, but then we scored for 2-0 and the game was decided. 

"It's always tight so you have to work hard for this, and then you get the reward. For us it's staying hungry and staying ambitious, because everything we do, we do for the club, we do for our fans and we do for us as a group.

"Now we feel how good it is, everybody knows how good it is to win a game, and since the Liverpool game we're flying on a cloud, and it's so nice there because it's sunny and not raining below the clouds!

"We want to keep this feeling until the end of the season. Again, this is hard work, but the players give me the confidence that they are really hard working for the future.”

Stats


With three games still to play, Newcastle suffered their tenth PL away defeat of the season, a total they have only exceeded nine times in their 29 full campaigns in that competition. 

3
2022/23
5 1996/97, 2001/02, 2003/04,
7 1995/96, 2018/19
8 1993/94, 1998/99, 2011/12
9 1994/95, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2010/11, 2020/21
10 1997/98, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2012/13, 2021/22, 2023/24
11 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2017/18, 2019/20
12 2006/07, 2014/15
14 2015/16

Elliot Anderson
played his 50th senior competitive game for United in all competitions (13 starts). 

Since Christian Benteke beat Karl Darlow here in October 2021, Palace had failed to net against United in all five home and away league and cup meetings. Mateta's opener ended that sequence after 539 minutes.

Magpies v Eagles @ Selhurst - all time:

2023/24 lost 0-2
2022/23 drew 0-0
2021/22
drew 1-1 Wilson
2020/21 won 2-0 Wilson, Joelinton
2019/20 lost 0-1
2018/19 drew 0-0
2017/18 drew 1-1 Diame
2015/16 lost 1-5 Cisse
2014/15 drew 1-1 Cisse
2014/15 won 3-2 (aet) Riviere 2, Dummett (LC)
2013/14 won 3-0 Cabaye, og(Gabbidon), Ben Arfa
2009/10 won 2-0 Nolan, Ryan Taylor
2004/05 won 2-0 Kluivert, Bellamy
1997/98 won 2-1 Tomasson, Ketsbaia
1994/95 won 1-0 Beardsley
1983/84 lost 1-3 Beardsley
1982/83 won 2-0 Waddle, Varadi
1981/82 won 2-1 Waddle, Mills
1978/79 lost 0-1
1972/73 drew 0-0 (AI)
1972/73 lost 1-2 Tudor
1971/72 lost 0-2
1970/71 lost 0-1
1969/70 won 3-0 Davies, Dyson, Robson
1964/65 drew 1-1 Cummings





Waffle

Newcastle returned to Premier League action on Wednesday at Selhurst Park, but it was Crystal Palace whose identity was intensity; showing superior momentum and purpose on the back of successive victories. 

Unchanged from the side that put four past Spurs without reply, the Magpies seldom looked comfortable and were repeatedly harried into mistakes when in possession, leaving home custodian Dean Henderson with barely a save to make throughout the entire game.

Oliver Glasner's Eagles proved to be a radically different outfit from the one led by Roy Hodgson that shipped four goals on Tyneside in October: confident, aggressive and full of running. Given that they'd played on Saturday while the Magpies were enjoying an 11 day fixture break, something was awry here tonight, but to lay the blame totally at our own door diminishes the quality of Palace.

What proved to be United's best scoring opportunity came in the opening minutes when Harvey Barnes had a clear route to goal as he raced into the area - but made a failed attempt at finding Anthony Gordon with a flamboyant back heel when a shot looked far more sensible.

From that point on the home side dominated central midfield and the elusive Eberechi Eze - strongly linked with a move to Tyneside when at QPR - continually found space around the visitors box. 

Despite that though, Palace didn't seriously threaten to end a goal drought against Newcastle that was over eight hours at the first whistle: Martin Dubravka beaten only by Jean-Phillippe Mateta's rocket late in the half that shook the crossbar but came from an offside position.

United weren't as hapless as they looked at half time in their last London visit at Craven Cottage, but another scoreless first 45 minutes left room for improvement.

Sadly it was Palace who found the breakthrough on 55 minutes, Mateta exchanging passes with Jordan Ayew before firing past Dubravka to register a goal for the fifth successive home game.

The origins of that opener were in slack marking and another self-inflicted wound saw Mateta claim his and Palace's second of the night on 88 minutes. Sean Longstaff seemed to have been fouled in the build-up, but referee Tom Bramall was uninterested.

Bramall had booked Longstaff in the aftermath of a 77th minute penalty appeal when the Newcastle midfielder was through on goal but went down under contact from Hughes seeking a penalty rather than getting his shot off. 

As Palace hurriedly restarted play, the referee initially appeared unwilling to consult VAR and only halted the game when strenuous Newcastle protests followed - Longstaff booked for foul and abusive language at that point rather than simulation.

Our initial reaction was to blame the Newcastle player for needlessly going to ground, but watching the replays caused a partial reclassification to "I've seen them given". Whether Longstaff's form for falling over was in the mind of the referee or the VAR checker isn't known, but it was in ours; this unwelcome element seems to have crept into his game lately.

The introduction of fit-again Callum Wilson from the bench in the 65th minute had failed to increase his side's potency in front of goal, coinciding with a change in formation to a back four. Until that point, United had gone with the back three/five with Anderson and Murphy as wing backs - neither who looked particularly comfortable or productive in their roles. It's fair to say that the hosts were rather more "at it" than Spurs had been.  

On a night when the Eagles mathematically secured their top-flight status this season, defeat for Newcastle raised fresh doubts over their European aspirations, albeit in the context of fielding a half-fit second striker and several squad players. The injuries are less pivotal but still a factor.

European rivals Manchester United meanwhile twice came from behind at home to defeat Sheffield United 4-2, taking them three points clear of Eddie Howe's side, who dropped one place into seventh.

The Blades are next up at Gallowgate on Saturday, while the Red Devils host fellow strugglers Burnley. Our visit to Old Trafford next month is starting to have "a winner takes all" element to it.
 
Biffa


This report is dedicated to Johnny Robinson - the life-long Mag recently passed away 
at the age of 65. Our condolences go to his family and friends in Middleton St George.