February 4 2018

Luka Milivojevic

Crystal Palace had to make do with a 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle United.

Palace will be disappointed to not have got more out of this game following a dominant second half performance and will rue missing a raft of wasted chances.

Christian Benteke's performance epitomised that and the shot-shy striker gave another woeful display, blowing a decent effort with a shot straight at Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow.

They fell behind in the 22nd minute with some terrible marking by the Eagles defence as they allowed Kenedy's corner to bounce through a crowd of players and an unmarked Mohamed Diame converted at the far post.

Wayne Hennessey then pulled out a terrific double save to keep out Kenedy's strike with his chest and he re-positioned himself to push away Ayoze Perez's shot.

Palace were unlucky to not have found the net after Wilfried Zaha's cross from the left was deflected into the path of Benteke but the ball bounced off him two yards from goal.

Martin Kelly added to Roy Hodgson's injury woes by tweaking his hamstring two minutes before half-time with the fit-again Mamadou Sakho joining the fray.

The Eagles came out all guns blazing for the second half and were rewarded with a penalty in the 55th minute after Ciaran Clark tugged Benteke's shirt in the box. Luka Milivojevic's spot-kick was almost kept out by Darlow but the ball squirmed over the line.

Yohan Cabaye, James McArthur and Zaha blazed over the bar when they should have done better as the hosts turned the screw. Jonjo Shelvey was fortunate the officials missed a blatant shirt tug on James McArthur in the area.

It was not going to be Palace's day when Clark then stopped Benteke's header on the goal line and then blocked a follow-up shot to deny an almost certain goal.

Palace: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Kelly (Sakho 46), Van Aanholt, Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic, McArthur, Zaha, Benteke.

Not used: Henry, Ward, Souare, Riedewald, Lee, Sorloth.

Newcastle: Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Richie, Diame (Hayden 65), Shelvey, Kenedy (Atsu 56), Perez (80), Gayle.

Not used: Dubravka, Manquillo, Lejeune, Murphy.

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