Callum Wilson and Joelinton heaped more misery onto a bad week for Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace, leaving it late to seal all three points on Friday evening.
The Eagles were left to rue missed chances, with Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi and Jordan Ayew, yet again failing to step-up and replace the goal scoring duties of Wilfried Zaha.
Story of the match
First half
Steve Bruce’s side certainly enjoyed the majority of the attacking impetus in the first 10 minutes - with Callum Wilson and Joelinton creating an early headache for the Palace defence.
The Brazilian striker, who has had a tough time adjusting to Premier League lifestyle since arriving from Hoffenheim last summer - had the Magpies' first chance of the match, stinging the palms of the goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita, from 25-yards out.
Palace grew into the game. Jeffrey Schlupp nearly opened the scoring halfway through the first half, when the ball fell to him somewhat fortuitously, plucking the ball out of the sky from a deflected pass.
Schlupp, who was recalled to the side to replace Michy Batshuayi, turned and drove at goal. After skipping past Federico Fernández, Schlupp unleashed a venomous shot, which forced a superb save from Karl Darlow to keep the game level.
Darlow’s save gave Newcastle confidence. Joelinton seized upon an uncharacteristic mistake from Scott Dann, intercepting a pass on the edge of the Palace penalty area.
However, with only Guaita to beat, the striker failed to connect with his shot, struggling to put any power into his effort and watching the ball roll into the hands of the Palace keeper.
Second half
The second half was very much like the first, both sides having a flurry of chances. Callum Wilson went closest for the visitors, heading a Javier Manquillo cross, agonisingly over the bar.
For the home side, Gary Cahill also went close, meeting an Andros Townsend corner, however, he failed to keep his effort on target.
Christian Benteke nearly sealed all three points for his side, directing a van Aanholt cross certain for the bottom corner, goal bound. However, Darlow had other ideas, flinging himself at the ball and pushing it away from goal.
The game was balanced on a knife edge, there for either side who showed enough quality in the final third to take all three points.
With the clock ticking down, Callum Wilson broke in behind the Palace defence, sitting Guiata down, and rolling the ball into the back of the net for his seventh of the season and sending Steve Bruce's bench into pandemonium.
The game plan was finished off only moments later, when Joelinton yet again caught the Palace defence napping, breaking in behind and capping off a hard fought victory for the Magpies.
Takeaways
Karl Darlow impresses again
Having bided his time, acting as understudy to first choice Martin Dúbravka - Karl Darlow is making a strong claim to keep his place in between the sticks for Steve Bruce’s side.
The now 30-year-old has been in inspired form this season, slotting in seamlessly in place of Dúbravka, who is suffering from a long-term knee injury.
Darlow made two majestic saves in the first half; first, denying Eberechi Eze with a one handed save and tipping his effort over the bar. Then secondly, throwing a strong hand at Jeffrey Schlupp’s shot, preventing the versatile forward from opening his account for the season.
Having spent the majority of the second half dormant, Darlow thwarted Christian Benteke's game winning header, arguably his best and most significant save of the evening.
Palace continue to struggle without Zaha
Make that now only two wins in seventeen games when Crystal Palace have been unable to call upon Wilfried Zaha.
Without their talisman, Roy Hodgson’s side continue to look bereft of ideas, relying on Jordan Ayew on Andros Townsend to produce a moment of magic to steal something from the game.
Eberechi Eze has adapted quickly to the step-up from the Championship, but it is a lot to ask for a 22-year-old, who is only starting his fifth Premier League game, to carry Palace’s attacking potency.
In addition, this was the third game this season where Palace have had the majority of possession and failed to come away with anything from the game.