April 30 2016

Alan Pardew (photo: Andy Roberts)

Crystal Palace were unable to find a way past a Newcastle United side battling for their lives. So what happened exactly?

By Matt Pearce and Dougal Caston

1. Darlow saves the Toon

Karl Darlow was the man to deny Crystal Palace a point after stopping Yohan Cabaye’s penalty and chance to equalise. A frustrating afternoon in Newcastle saw a rather confusing spot kick given to Palace shortly after conceding the goal, which Darlow managed to save to deny us the chance to break even. The Newcastle third-choice keeper was consistently solid throughout the match, denying Cabaye’s first-half attempt and Yannick Bolasie’s powerful volley, commanding his box well, and cutting out all of Palace’s opportunities. It was the performance from the keeper that was the difference between the two sides.

2. Bright first half, disappointing second

At the end of the first period, Palace had every reason to feel confident about being able to take all three points from St James' Park. Palace looked the more threatening team, with some early nerves from Newcastle making them look susceptible to our attack, Bolasie in particular causing some big problems for the Magpies' back four. Unfortunately, Newcastle came out looking like a transformed side after the break, and Palace were unable to match the intensity of the team battling relegation. Newcastle’s urgent closing down and higher press in the second half managed to prevent us from regaining any control of the match.

This is how we all felt after that result. #cpfc pic.twitter.com/8J7IGOsBN1

— Robert Sutherland (@RoDuSu) April 30, 2016

3. Tactical changes make little impact

Yet again Pardew’s tactical changes failed to make their mark on the game, despite bringing on three attacking players and switching formation. The changes didn't produce any real chances for Palace and were possibly too little, too late. Bakary Sako looked poor with some sloppy touches and loose passing, and both Dwight Gayle and Emmanuel Adebayor were provided little to work with from a tired midfield. While there was certainly logic to Pardew’s decisions, they would be a lot more effective if there were offensive options on the bench who he could rely on to make an impact, in the way Wilfried Zaha has when coming off the bench recently.

4. The Mac is back

One positive we can take from our trip to the North East is seeing industrious midfielder James McArthur return to the starting line-up. The central midfielder worked hard, covering a lot of ground, and providing support to our defensive and attacking players. McArthur, who before this month had been out since February, has been regaining match fitness. There were points where it looked doubtful that he would be back this campaign, but the Scot looked as solid as ever back as Palace’s engine room, and it’s great to have him back for the last few games of the season.

5. Maybe Big Sam was right?

Earlier in the week Sunderland gaffer Sam Allardyce ruffled a few feathers by chiming in on this fixture, claiming that: "Newcastle will win on Saturday, I'd have a bet on that if I could…Palace are in the FA Cup final and they would all have been celebrating, they would all have been on the pop [alcohol]… They won't be mentally ready for it and neither will Alan [Pardew], because he'll be thinking about the final now." Now clearly this was shameless mind games from the manager of a team who will also being fighting relegation down to the wire this season, but you cant help but wonder what would have happened if the lads hadn’t all been “on the pop” last week.

On the pop?

Alan Pardew says Sam Allardyce comments were prehistoric' #cpfchttps://t.co/BY7bM3mmfa pic.twitter.com/SvtWFb8pAm

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 30, 2016