Jacob Murphy scored once and provided two assists as Newcastle United beat Crystal Palace 4-0 in the Premier League at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
The breakthrough came in the fourth minute through Murphy, before Anthony Gordon and Sean Longstaff netted in the closing stages of the first period to hand the Magpies a comfortable advantage at the interval.
Callum Wilson then added a fourth for Eddie Howe's side in the 66th minute, and the result has left Newcastle in fifth spot in the table on 16 points, while Palace sit in 10th position on 12 points.
Murphy expertly found the back of the net with a lobbed finish to open the scoring; the goal was initially disallowed for an offside on Kieran Trippier, but a VAR check revealed that the defender was not beyond the last man, which allowed the home side's fans to celebrate for the second time in quick succession.
Palace had a chance to level in the eighth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta met a dangerous corner from Will Hughes, but his header was just wide of the far post.
The visitors had another opportunity in the 19th minute when a corner was only half-cleared to Tyrick Mitchell, but he sent his first-time volley over the crossbar.
Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone made a smart save to keep out a strike from Murphy in the 25th minute, before Gordon side-footed a volley onto the crossbar in the 30th minute.
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Newcastle were dominant, though, and the Magpies doubled their lead in the closing stages of the first period through Gordon, who converted an excellent delivery from Murphy at the far post.
Two then became three in stoppage time at the end of the first period, with Longstaff firing into the back of the net from inside the box following a mistake from Marc Guehi in the middle of the Palace defence.
Palace had a chance to register in the 57th minute when Mitchell delivered a dangerous low cross into the box, but Odsonne Edouard's strike was blocked by Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles.
The Magpies were straight on the counter, with Murphy delivering low into Gordon, but Joel Ward did brilliantly to turn the cross behind, with the score remaining 3-0.
Newcastle managed to score their fourth in the 66th minute, though, with Wilson brilliantly picking out the bottom corner after Murphy had delivered into his teammate.
Guehi fired wide of the home side's goal in the 74th minute before Johnstone kept out a strike from Miguel Almiron down the other end, with both teams threatening to score the game's fifth goal.
Palace almost gave their fans something to cheer late on when Edouard sent a free kick towards the top corner, but the home side's goalkeeper Nick Pope was on hand to make an excellent save.
Newcastle's attention will now switch to the Champions League, with Borussia Dortmund heading to St James' Park on Wednesday, while Palace will be bidding to bounce back from the disappointing result when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the league next Saturday.
Matt Law
