Another fruitless display for the Eagles at St James' Park where debutant Brennan Johnson has subdued impact

Eagles didn't soar in the north east

Premier League

Newcastle United (0) 2 Guimaraes 71, Thiaw 78

Crystal Palace (0) 0

If Crystal Palace can take any solace from their latest defeat at St James' Park, one of their least favourite hunting grounds, it must be that Newcastle didn't manage a greater victory margin.

The Magpies would have challenged last season's 5-0 triumph had two first-half efforts by Anthony Gordon and Joelinton not been ruled out by fractional offside decisions curtesy of VAR coming to Palace's rescue. 

Dean Henderson also produced two excellent saves to keep out Malick Thiaw's first-half header and another from substitute Harvey Barnes between Newcastle's two goals which came in a late seven-minute spell.

Although Will Hughes was rather surprisingly Palace's least shot-shy player with three efforts which were either deflected or blocked, the visitors tested home goalkeeper Nick Pope with only one on-target shot.

That, an acute angled effort, came from new boy Brennan Johnson who had a debut that was no better than satisfactory. Along with Adam Wharton who looked jaded in midfield, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yeremy Pino, Johnson was substituted in the second half as Palace's pursuit of a point looked increasingly forlorn.

The pressure finally paid off for Newcastle in the 71st minute when Yoane Wissa nodded a free kick from Harvey Barnes across the goalmouth for Guimaraes to score with a further header.

The second Newcastle goal followed a corner from Guimaraes which produced a goalmouth melee and a decisive prod from Thiaw. It would have got worse for Palace had Barnes not finished off a solo raid by firing against the legs of Henderson who was relieved to see Wissa shoot wastefully wide from the rebound.

If Palace can take any heart from the outcome it is that their defeat on the same pitch last April heralded a 19-game unbeaten run which included victories in the FA Cup Final and Community Shield. Manager Oliver Glasner would settle for a similar response this time but he acknowledged that his players need to improve their defending at set pieces.

"It is my responsibility together with my staff to give the players better solutions, that they feel more comfortable and can defend this in a better way,' he admitted. 

Magpies: (4-3-3) Pope - Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall (Livramento 63) - Guimaraes, Tonali (Ramsey 63), Joelinton - Murphy (Willock 88), Wissa (Woltemade 78), Gordon (Barnes 63)

Eagles: (3-4-2-1) Henderson - Lerma (Canvot 38), Lacroix, Guehi - Clyne (Devenny 52), Wharton (Rodney 87), Hughes, Mitchell - Johnson (Uche 72), Pino (Esse 87) - Mateta (Drakes-Thomas 87)