Newcastle United were comfortable winners this afternoon, sweeping aside Crystal Palace with a 4-0 win.
It was another win for Eddie Howe's side in the Premier League where Newcastle put a bagful past their opponents with several different scorers getting on the scoresheet.
Jacob Murphy opened the scoring early on with a sublime lob that was absolutely not a cross at all. The ball was pinged forward by Fabian Schar to Kieran Trippier who hit a delightful volleyed cross over to Murphy who dinked the ball into the far corner while not at all trying to pick out Callum Wilson at the back stick. The referee's assistant flagged for offside but, after a VAR check, the goal was awarded.
The 'tireless' Jacob Murphy then turned provider, once again aiming for Callum Wilson at the far post and instead finding Anthony Gordon who was right behind Wilson as back-up. That goal will have come as a massive relief to the returning Gordon who had just hit the bar from three yards out mere moments earlier.
With the half-time whistle approaching, Sean Longstaff* killed the game off as a contest when he pressed Marc Guehi into an error, relieving him of possession and firing low and hard beyond Sam Johnstone.
Newcastle's dominance continued into the second half but with no further goals to show for it until past the hour-mark. Just as Alexander Isak was set to come on in place of Callum Wilson, the £20 million signing from Bournemouth popped up with a calm finish after latching on to a brilliant ball by that man Jacob Murphy.
Following the fourth goal, Eddie Howe made a quadruple substitution which kinda stifled Newcastle's momentum, but at that point, the game was already won and the Magpies boss had one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Sandro Tonali was among that raft of substitutes and came on to a rapturous reception from the Toon Army after being serenaded with his song every time he stepped off the bench to warm up.
Another three points for Newcastle sees them climb into fifth in the Premier League until tomorrow as West Ham travel to Aston Villa with every possible outcome guaranteeing Newcastle will drop at least one place.
*We hope nobody took Longstaff out of their FPL team after our report yesterday. Whoops.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
6 | 10 | 15 |
2 |
Manchester City
|
6 | 8 | 14 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
6 | 7 | 14 |
4 |
Chelsea
|
6 | 8 | 13 |
5 |
Aston Villa
|
6 | 3 | 13 |
6 |
Fulham
|
6 | 3 | 11 |
7 |
Newcastle United
|
6 | 1 | 11 |
8 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
6 | 7 | 10 |
9 |
Brighton
|
6 | 2 | 9 |
10 |
Nottingham Forest
|
6 | 1 | 9 |
11 |
Bournemouth
|
6 | -1 | 8 |
12 |
Brentford
|
6 | -2 | 7 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
6 | -3 | 7 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
6 | -4 | 5 |
15 |
Ipswich
|
6 | -5 | 4 |
16 |
Everton
|
6 | -8 | 4 |
17 |
Leicester
|
6 | -4 | 3 |
18 |
Crystal Palace
|
6 | -4 | 3 |
19 |
Southampton
|
6 | -9 | 1 |
20 |
Wolves
|
6 | -10 | 1 |