Crystal Palace fans, along with Roy Hodgson, may ponder how the season would have unfolded if Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise hadn’t spent so much time sidelined with injuries.
A third consecutive win for Oliver Glasner’s team, courtesy of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 10th and 11th goals of the season, halted Newcastle’s recent resurgence and left Eddie Howe’s squad facing an uphill battle to secure European football. Palace hadn’t achieved three consecutive victories since Hodgson’s return, but this time, wins against Liverpool, West Ham, and Newcastle under Glasner’s management showcase the team’s progress.
“We were disappointing in most aspects of our play and we have to take responsibility for that,” said the Newcastle manager, who admitted that the 10-day break since their 4-0 win over Tottenham had affected their performance. “We looked rusty in lots of aspects of our game and it’s a very flat feeling at the moment.”
Mateta, with eight goals in nine matches since Glasner’s arrival, has become a pivotal figure in Palace’s attack. His clinical finishing, coupled with Eze’s dazzling skills, demonstrated the team’s offensive prowess. Although Olise made only a brief appearance from the bench as he continues his recovery, Palace’s history of struggling to score against Newcastle was decisively overturned.
Newcastle’s recent form, earning 10 points from their last four matches, provided optimism for European qualification. However, slipping to seventh in the table after the defeat against Palace was deemed a missed opportunity by Howe.
Palace’s style under previous managers contributed to their previous struggles in scoring against Newcastle, but their intent was evident from the start. Despite Newcastle’s attempts to find rhythm, Palace dominated proceedings with precise passing and relentless pressing.
The breakthrough came with a brilliant exchange between Mateta and Jordan Ayew, leading to Mateta’s goal. Olise’s introduction added further threat, resulting in Mateta’s second goal sealing the victory for Palace.
Newcastle’s frustrations grew as their appeals for a penalty were dismissed, and the late introduction of Olise compounded their defensive woes. The final whistle signaled another triumph for Palace, echoing chants of “Olly Glasner’s red and blue army.”
