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Crystal Palace secure first win of calendar year, Newcastle’s London slump continues

Credit - @CPFC

Crystal Palace 1 : 0 Newcastle United

A free kick by Patrick van Aanholt was the difference between the sides at Selhurst Park. His direct shot curled around the wall and Martin Dubravka to give the Eagles a deserved win.

He caused the Newcastle defence much trouble and Dubravka had to be smart to prevent a Gary Cahill header from giving Palace an earlier lead.

It was Palace’s first win in 2020, the last being on Boxing Day against West Ham. It broke a run of three straight losses to Southampton, Sheffield United and Everton.

Draws at Everton and Wolves and a win over Chelsea were decent results but they looked more like the side bereft of ideas that tuned up in the second half at Arsenal. The win takes Palace away from the dreaded drop zone but a poor Newcastle side will be watching results below them nervously.

Palace created the first chance but Gary Cahill’s header from a corner was magnificently saved by Martin Dubravka tipping it over the bar at full stretch. Scott Dann’s head was equally denied by the Czech keeper eight minutes later.

The visitors’ only shot on target came when Joelinton forced Guarita into his first and only save soon after but Christian Benteke provided the misery highlight reel with its moment by directing a van Aanholt free kick wider from the goal than it was far when he met it.

The home fans got their merited reward one minute before half time when van Aanholt curled that exquisite free kick around the wall and Dubravka.

After half time, the Palace domination continued. Ayew fired just wide as Palace started the second half as they had finished the first. Another Cahill header met the same fate. Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle came on for Newcastle bu nothing changed. Dubravka made another great stop to deny Ayew a goal his efforts on the day really deserved,

Valentino Lazaro was sent off fin stoppage time for pulling back Wilfried Zaha as the minutes elapsed.

Crystal Palace: Guaita; Ward, van Aanholt, Dann, Kouyate (Riedewald 88′), Ayew, Zaha, Benteke (Tosun 88′), McArthur, McCarthy, Cahill (c)

Newcastle United: Dubravka, Schaer, Lascelles, Joelinto, Saint-Maximin, Fernandez, Lazaro, Almiron (Gayle 72′), Rose (Ritchie 72′), Sean Longstaff, Bentaleb

Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Harry Lennard. Fourth official: Stuart Attwell. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.

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