Feel Good Factor Continues As Palace Fight Back To Beat Newcastle

The Eagles brushed off the midweek exertions in Europe to surprise the visitors by battling back to score two late goals and take all three points in a tight encounter at Selhurst.

MATCH INFORMATION

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 17 Nathaniel CLYNE, 34 Chadi RIAD, 44 Walter BENITEZ, 55 Justin DEVENNY

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 1 Nick POPE, 2 Kieran TRIPPIER, 28 Joe WILLOCK, 33 Dan BURN,

POST GAME QUOTES

OLIVER GLASNER

“I will give the full team the credit for the performance. When you play a team like Newcastle, it’s not easy to come back. We had to keep a good balance. The players did so well and we had a great impact from the bench again. It was the plan honestly to rest some players and then bring them on around 60 minutes. Massive win.

We have seven games to play. We are on 42 points. Eleven points left to break our Premier League points record. That’s the goal. Our performances have improved massively in the last weeks. Now, playing in two competitions at our top level is what we want to do.”

TYRICK MITCHELL

“We knew we were going to get chances. We hit the woodwork and knew we were going to get more as the game went on. It was a nice feeling. I was a bit tired towards the end and it was nice to see the fans celebrate my 200th game. It’s hard. But you want to play. I am happy being tired than not playing.” 

MATCH STATISTICS

BOB’S POINT OF VIEW

Bob White was a coach at Palace under the tenure of Steve Coppell and Alan Smith and will be sharing his point of view each week in our review article.

“The whole atmosphere felt a bit like after the Lord Mayor’s Show following the loud passionate support we saw on Thursday against Fiorentina.

Although it eventually proved to be the best decision, Glasner rested five of the starting XI from Thursday. The first half was a rather uneventful slow burner until Newcastle scored just before the break with their only clear chance of the game.

Our response immediately after and into the first 15 minutes of the second half was completely off the pace and necessary intensity to offer any real threat to Newcastle. They were looking too comfortable and happy to slow the game down to maintain control.

However, the introduction of Mateta, Wharton, and Sarr completely altered the whole shape of the contest. We played with greater fluidity in possession and as a result chances were created.

So, it was no surprise that we equalised through Mateta with ten minutes to play and a blatant pulling of Lerma’s shirt from a long throw earned us a penalty in the last minute. Mateta coolly tucked the penalty away and gave us the win which we may have doubted was possible at half-time.

On reflection, it certainly wasn’t our best performance of the season but winning ugly is a useful tool to have in the tactical box.

My man of the match today goes to Mitchell, our youngest ever player to reach 200 appearances. He has been one of our most consistent performers this season and should, in my opinion, be in the England squad for the World Cup this summer.

Onwards we go to Fiorentina on Thursday in the second leg of the Conference League tie. Up the Palace!” 

TEB VERDICT

A rotated Palace side, even though Glasner said it wouldn’t be, appeared to suffer from another European hangover against an average Newcastle team, but it wasn’t through the lack of trying.

Multiple missed chances by the hosts went begging before the visitors took the lead with their first chance of the game just before half-time.

Not much improved in the second half until Glasner made telling changes. Immediate pressure and energy heaped on the visitors allowed Mateta to score from a once saved close range Mitchell shot. A fortunate but correct penalty award converted by the Frenchman sealed the win for Palace ensuring the Eagles leapfrog Newcastle in the table to 13th on goal difference.

A hard fought win closes what has been a very successful week for Palace ahead of an all important trip to Florence, but this late win adds to the confidence that is building within this group of players.

The importance of having options of the bench was telling and will continue to do so as the seasons comes to a conclusion both in Europe and domestically. Reach the last four of the Conference League will be significant, but there is still a job to do in Italy.

Take nothing away from this victory which sees Palace break the forty point barrier and away from any of the shenanigans towards the lower end of the table.

LEAGUE POSITION

UPCOMING FIXTURES