We were organised and restricted Newcastle to very little.

Would have expected more from them though.

MOM Jairo for me.

Bats should have a device fitted which administers an electric shock each time he strays offside.

A great result if a dour second half performance. There was no need to bring Mateta on tonight. I'm sure he'll soon feature. It's so frustrating that Batshuayi still hasn't sorted out when to make his runs (the few that he does make). The more he plays the more he proves he's not worth £20m of our club's money.

The commentators on BT said that the Palace dugout had confirmed that Zaha's problem was a hamstring so we may not see him for a while. Unfortunately that will probably mean that Andros will be starting regularly in his absence.

For those who moaned about our not having a full bench tonight, I wonder whether that might be down to the separate bubbles between the first team squad and the Academy.

At least we have six days before we have to play Leeds so sufficient time for tonight's players to recover (and possibly for getting McArthur back)?

An ugly win in tough conditions. If Bruce had half a brain he would have brought on Carroll much earlier as he would have caused havoc with long balls into the box.

Big trouble if Wilf is out long term. Without him or Schlupp we have no pace to counter attack. We may have to to go full Burnley an resort to long balls to Benteke and Mateta.

1) Townsend should donate two weeks' pay to the Academy.
2) What do announcers (and Roy) see in PVA that I don't?
Mitchell is not as dynamic as PVA, perhaps not as skilled, but he is far more reliable. Mitchell plays within himself whereas PVA plays as if he were 20 years old, world class, and the sun is always shining and the pitch is always firm.
3) Bats should donate two weeks' pay to the Academy and retain the services of a hypnotist who will train him always to remain onside.
4) I still can't believe there's not a better captain than Luka.

Nevertheless, I'm feeling almost Glad All Over.

That could easily have gone wrong but we’ll celebrate the win. Clyne makes a big difference at RB. Dann and Cahill getting more love than they deserve. Van Aanholt garbage again. Jairo and Luka superb all night, Ayew excellent and Eze decent. Wilf quiet, Batshuayi pathetic and Townsend an embarrassment. Tough times ahead with no Wilf but if Roy goes with Benteke we should muddle through.

Disagree the schlupp keeps him out of the side. Like Jeff but he looses the ball just as much as eze. Eze offers something different, the way he carries it forward with ease is top class and his delivery tonight for cahills goal was quality. Essential for me