Crystal Palace 1-0 Newcastle United: Patrick van Aanholt stunner earns first win of 2020

Crystal Palace secured their first win of 2020 thanks to Patrick van Aanholt's superb first-half free-kick which saw off visitors Newcastle.

The victory also ended a run of three league defeats for Roy Hodgson's side who benefitted from yet another ragged display by the visitors.

The Magpies' regular saviour Martin Dubravka had made two superb stops from Gary Cahill and Scott Dann before Van Aanholt found a way past him just before half-time with a glorious 20-yard strike.

Jordan Ayew went close on a couple of occasions, one of which came off the foot of the post, while Belgian Christian Benteke really should have done better with a header from six yards out.

Newcastle managed only two shots on target. Vicente Guaita was at full stretch to keep out a long-range effort from Joelinton and tipped over a fierce effort from Fabian Schar.

And to round off a thoroughly disappointing day for the visitors, January signing Valentino Lazaro was shown a straight red in stoppage time for hauling down Wilfried Zaha, who was through on goal.

The win moves Palace above Newcastle into 13th with 33 points. Newcastle drop down to 14th, with 31 points, seven clear of the drop zone.

Palace attack thrives against Newcastle

Crystal Palace boss says his side will be in a 'dogfight' to avoid relegation.

Thanks to Van Aanholt's strike Palace are no longer the team with the fewest goals scored in the league. But having drawn level with Newcastle (also 24) they really should have ended the match well clear.

The Eagles managed six shots on target in a one-sided first half - equalling their best in an entire game this season - with Dubravka thwarting them twice with two remarkable saves.

Both Ayew and Zaha were allowed plenty of space against a Newcastle side set up with five at the back. Ayew in particular impressed, coming in from the right to produce seven efforts on goal - five of which were on target.

The Ghanaian summer signing was inches away from ending his five-game drought when his low strike from 10 yards cannoned off the post before Newcastle's keeper denied him from similar range.

As for Benteke, it was one of his better games but his first-half headed miss might play on his mind for a while longer.

This was a better attacking display from Palace, but they played a Newcastle side in a generous mood.

Joelinton fires another blank

Joelinton touchmap — Joelinton's touchmap shows he only managed two touches in Palace's box (right) in the entire match

That is now no goals in three matches for Steve Bruce's side, and the discussions over striker Joelinton's inclusion in the XI will become more heated.

The Brazilian, signed for £40m in the summer, has scored only one goal in the league and this week his boss suggested the Brazilian was not a natural goalscorer but a "team player".

There is little argument over the 23-year-old's workrate but, like Bruce also said, he needs to be more selfish.

The forward did bring the travelling support to their feet with his brilliant first-half strike which was kept out by Guaita, but it is in the penalty area where the fans want him to impose himself.

The touchmap above shows he only twice managed to get on the ball in the box, and even then it was near the edge.

For how much longer will Bruce persist with him?

Man of the match - Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace)

'Maybe it's time to change' - reaction

Palace boss Roy Hodgson: "It was hard to lose three in a row especially when in the last two we were hard done by. We dominated the game but I am disappointed we had to suffer towards the end. When it's 1-0 they are never out of the picture.

"It's our first win in 2020. It was vitally important, and had we conceded in the last few minutes it would have been disastrous. That would have knocked us for six.

"But it's a win that moves us up the table and away from the relegation zone. We never lost sight that this would be a dogfight and we wanted to stay ahead of the curve on that."

Newcastle United's Steve Bruce will look to make changes after a loss to Crystal Palace.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce: "The better team won. We have had decent possession, but we gave the ball away too cheaply especially when in good areas.

"We didn't ask questions, maybe it is a time to change - we have to score to win a game. It was difficult with the conditions, but we have no complaints saying the better team won."

On Lazaro's red card: "With 10 seconds to go, does the referee really have to send him off? Is a yellow not sufficient? But rules are rules, and we will abide by it.

"He played very well today, we didn't find him enough - in wide areas, we ignored the lad. We needed to get it out to him, but he played very well.

"Our biggest problem all season has been evident - we have to create more of a threat in the opponent's area. We have to look at it and analyse it. Maybe change is sometimes for the best."

Van Aanholt: the best attacking defender? - stats

Palace secured their first win in eight Premier League games, after losing three and drawing four.
Newcastle have managed just one win in their last nine Premier League games (D3 L5).
Palace registered their first clean sheet in 11 top-flight games, since a 0-0 draw with Watford in December 2019.
Newcastle have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since January 2016.
Palace directed nine shots on target, more than in any of their other Premier League games this season (six came in the first half).
Since returning to the Premier League ahead of the 2014-15 season, Van Aanholt has scored 20 goals in the competition, more than any other defender.

What's next?

Palace are at Brighton in the Premier League next Saturday (12:30 GMT) while the Magpies are at home to Burnley (15:00).

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-3-3

31Guaita
2Ward
6Dann
24Cahill
3van Aanholt
8KouyatéSubstituted forRiedewaldat 89'minutes
22McCarthyBooked at 14mins
18McArthurBooked at 74mins
9J Ayew
17BentekeSubstituted forTosunat 89'minutes
11Zaha

Substitutes

7Meyer
10Townsend
13Hennessey
20Tosun
34Kelly
40Pierrick Keutcha
44Riedewald

Newcastle

Formation 5-4-1

1Dubravka
23LazaroBooked at 90mins
18Fernández
6LascellesBooked at 40mins
5Schär
28RoseSubstituted forRitchieat 71'minutesBooked at 83mins
24AlmirónBooked at 32minsSubstituted forGayleat 71'minutes
36S LongstaffBooked at 90mins
42BentalebBooked at 21mins
10Saint-Maximin
9JoelintonBooked at 88mins

Substitutes

11Ritchie
12Gayle
14Hayden
20Lejeune
22Yedlin
26Darlow
43M Longstaff

Referee:: Peter Bankes
Attendance:: 25,486

Match Stats

Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamNewcastle

Possession: Home44%; Away56%

Shots: Home18; Away8

Shots on Target: Home9; Away2

Corners: Home7; Away5

Fouls: Home15; Away11

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Newcastle United 0.
90'+7'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Newcastle United 0.

90'+7'
Post update
Attempt missed. Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
90'+6'
Booking
Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
90'+5'
Dismissal
Valentino Lazaro (Newcastle United) is shown the red card.
90'+5'
Post update
Foul by Valentino Lazaro (Newcastle United).
90'+5'
Post update
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Nabil Bentaleb.
90'
Post update
Foul by Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United).
90'
Post update
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces Cheikhou Kouyaté because of an injury.
89'
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Cenk Tosun replaces Christian Benteke.
88'
Booking
Joelinton (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
83'
Booking
Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
83'
Post update
Foul by Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United).
83'
Post update
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81'
Post update
Attempt missed. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by James McCarthy.
79'
Post update
Nabil Bentaleb (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'
Post update
Foul by James McCarthy (Crystal Palace).
75'
Post update
Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Liverpool	26	25	1	0	61	15	46	76
2	Man City	27	18	3	6	68	29	39	57
3	Leicester	27	15	5	7	54	27	27	50
4	Chelsea	27	13	5	9	45	37	8	44

5	Tottenham	27	11	7	9	44	36	8	40
6	Sheff Utd	27	10	10	7	29	25	4	40

7	Man Utd	26	10	8	8	38	29	9	38

8	Burnley	27	11	4	12	33	39	-6	37
9	Wolves	26	8	12	6	35	32	3	36
10	Everton	26	10	6	10	34	38	-4	36
11	Arsenal	26	7	13	6	36	34	2	34
12	Southampton	27	10	4	13	34	48	-14	34
13	Crystal Palace	27	8	9	10	24	32	-8	33
14	Newcastle	27	8	7	12	24	41	-17	31
15	Brighton	27	6	10	11	32	39	-7	28
16	Bournemouth	27	7	5	15	26	43	-17	26
17	Aston Villa	27	7	4	16	34	52	-18	25

18	West Ham	26	6	6	14	30	45	-15	24
19	Watford	26	5	9	12	24	40	-16	24
20	Norwich	26	4	6	16	24	48	-24	18

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Comments

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104 comments

Comment posted by Richard Cranium, at 17:07 22 Feb 2020
Hodgson once more proves a wise owl.
Comment posted by Martz, at 17:10 22 Feb 2020
Benitez bought Joelinton for £40Million who been sold a year before by Rapid Vienna for £1Million....
I wonder who got the commission off that purchase ????????

NO HE DID NOT. Ashley bought Joelinton and it was ratified by Bruce. Nothing to do with Rafa.
Comment posted by mark, at 17:04 22 Feb 2020
Needed that win badly, was getting sucked into relegation fight, great win for Palace.
Comment posted by NS2011, at 17:05 22 Feb 2020
Great win Palace, Phew we needed that
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 17:03 22 Feb 2020
Well done Palace on the win which was much needed given recent results. Cracker of a strike by Patrick van Aanholt for the three points.
Comment posted by Chris, at 17:03 22 Feb 2020
Not buying a goalscorer looks absolutely reckless for Newcastle.
Comment posted by flit, at 17:16 22 Feb 2020
Rafa valued Linton at £20m and refused to sign him. It was one of the main reasons he left..
Comment posted by TS, at 17:31 22 Feb 2020
Deserved win by Palace by all accounts. Newcastle going to struggle to stay up and you wonder where Bruce got the idea that there were no better strikers available in January....
Comment posted by The Eagle, at 17:03 22 Feb 2020
Well done Palace! Three more points in the bag - first season we've been looking up the table not flirting with relegation!!
Comment posted by pete, at 18:03 22 Feb 2020
Yes i am a Newcastle fan, i have no delusions about what we are. I dont mind losing, 4-3 against Liverpool a few times but at least that was entertainment.....this is appalling
Comment posted by NB Buttermilk, at 17:48 22 Feb 2020
Bruce has paid 40 million quid for someone he calls a team player rather than a natural goalscorer. He needs his head examined.
Comment posted by mbnufc90, at 17:19 22 Feb 2020
Well done Palace can only beat what's in front of you we were poor and referee was poor aswell
Comment posted by Shola_the_destroyer, at 17:18 22 Feb 2020
Bruce sets up the same hyper defensive tactics against the likes of palace and Norwich as he would against barca away. Infuriating
Comment posted by Coolverine, at 17:07 22 Feb 2020
Deserved win for Palace, think they are safe.
Comment posted by pete, at 17:58 22 Feb 2020
Mitro scoring loads at Fulham; Armstrong at Blackburn, Toney at Peterborough. All never given a chance at Newcastle by the powers that be. It's disgusting really especially when the board see the answer lies with a £40m Brazilian. Crazy times
Comment posted by Andinsecondplace, at 17:18 22 Feb 2020
Definiton of insanity, trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Newcastle nil, again. Drop the front lads, the youngster cannot do worse than nil. Again.
Comment posted by Ancient Mariner, at 17:07 22 Feb 2020
Six yellows and one red. Absolute disgrace. Championship here we come
Comment posted by U16659778, at 18:03 22 Feb 2020
32. Posted byNB Buttermilkon
5 minutes ago
Bruce has paid 40 million quid for someone he calls a team player rather than a natural goalscorer. He needs his head examined.

Bruce didn't spend the money Ashley had agreed the deal before his puppet took over. Bruce has no say in who is brought in, he only says who he likes but Ashley buys who he wants. Bruce is another Pardew, an Ashley toady
Comment posted by Spanish Costas, at 19:26 22 Feb 2020
Amazed any Toon fans here can complain about the result. If we put our chances away that would have been 4-0 at least. We were good value for at least a 2-0 or probably a 3-0. Big Ben and Ayew need to start scoring more.
Comment posted by Marcusgbg, at 18:12 22 Feb 2020
So... is Roy under pressure, or is he saving CP? The narrative so often seems to change, from one week to another.