Crystal Palace edged a point closer to safety by battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Selhurst Park this evening.
The Magpies, who are now unbeaten in 11 games against Palace in all competitions, made the breakthrough in a first half devoid of any real clear-cut chances courtesy of Papiss Cisse's powerful header.
Yannick Bolasie's introduction 20 minutes from time made a huge difference for an Eagles side struggling to find that extra bit of quality needed in the final third, and it was his cross which led to Fraizer Campbell's equaliser just a few moments later.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at how the 90 minutes of action unfolded in South London.
Match statistics
CRYSTAL PALACE
Shots: 6
On target: 3
Possession: 53%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 10
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Shots: 4
On target: 1
Possession: 47%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 11
Was the result fair?
On the balance of things neither side can have too many complaints with a point apiece from what was a game lacking in any real quality bar two standout moments. Just four shots on goal combined across the 90 minutes, it took crosses from Daryl Janmaat and substitute Bolasie to make the difference for their respective sides at Selhurst Park.
Cisse and Campbell were the men to convert the chances, but it is hard to remember a great deal of attacking action other than the goals themselves. Wilfried Zaha was as lively as ever in the first half, tracking back to make eight ball recoveries but completing just two of his seven attempted take-ons. That in many ways sums up this frustrating game, which failed to come to life until Palace eventually equalised out of nothing, and from that point on if there was going to be a winning goal it was likely to fall to the hosts.
Crystal Palace's performance
Alan Pardew will have been delighted by the start his side made, looking to get right in the face of his former club with some promising early raids forward, yet that proved to be a false dawn for a contest which struggled to get out of first gear. That early spell culminated in Zaha testing Tim Krul with a tame effort down low, and that proved to be the Eagles' only effort on target up until Campbell's leveller.
Zaha then saw a shot blocked late on, while Brede Hangeland - in for the injured Scott Dann - came close to winning the match at the death with his headed effort. The difference maker on the night was clear to see, with the returning Bolasie creating a couple of chances after being brought on 20 minutes from time, including the assist for former Sunderland striker Campbell's goal. It may have been a bland performance from Palace, although Pardew continues to rack up the points with this another step closer to safety for his side.
Newcastle United's performance
It is difficult to find encouragement if you are a Newcastle supporter right now, with the club playing for very little in the final third of the season. Relegation is highly unlikely, particularly with this a third game in succession without defeat under the caretaker management of John Carver, but fighting for a place among the European elite is also very much out of the question.
Newcastle had just the single shot on target all evening - Cisse's goal - and with a few minutes remaining a defender was brought on for an attacking player. There was not a lot for the Toon's travelling support to get excited about whatsoever, and it is now just a case of ticking down the games until the end of the term.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Daryl Janmaat: Bolasie is a strong contender for this accolade, but having been on the field for less than a quarter of the game it seems unfair to chose him over someone like Janmaat. The Dutchman was the game's top tackler, completing six out of seven of the challenges he went in for, as well as providing a rare moment of quality with his cross for Cisse's goal.
Biggest gaffe
Newcastle may have little to play for at this stage, but surely with the pressure off that means you should really go for it in games like this? That was not to be the case, with United racking up a solitary shot on goal. They have a tough run coming up over the next couple of months, so maybe a change of approach is needed if they are to push into the top half.
Referee performance
Not a great deal for Andre Marriner to contend with, making just one big call all evening when he disallowed Campbell's first-half header. It was a decision he and his officials got spot on, too, with the Englishman standing well offside. Cautioned three players all night, two of those coming in the space of 60 second-half seconds when Janmaat and Jack Colback entered the book.
What next?
Crystal Palace: Liverpool await on the weekend in the FA Cup, a game which Eagles supporters should well and truly be up for as they aim to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Newcastle United: There is now a 10-day break for Toon players ahead of their next game, which comes away at champions Manchester City. They have won at the Etihad Stadium once already this season in the cup, of course, so they will be looking to pull off an equally memorable triumph a week on Saturday.
Daniel Lewis
