Newcastle United 2, Crystal Palace 0

Jan 28 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

NEWCASTLE’S ability to grind out results has been their most impressive trademark this season, and it was the only redeeming feature of their performance against Crystal Palace as they somehow eked out three vital points.

The win – Newcastle’s first in the league since December 20 – was enough to restore their three point lead at the top of the Championship and to eight points over third-placed West Brom.

But it was not an encouraging evening’s work, and the hosts needed an own goal to break Palace’s resistance before Nile Ranger made the game safe deep into stoppage time.

Having begun brightly enough, Newcastle slipped into bad habits and, had it not been for a fingertip save from Steve Harper, who diverted former United team-mate Darren Ambrose’s shot on to the post, the Magpies could have dropped valuable points against a team which has been thrown into turmoil this week.

Palace have had more than their fair share of troubles over the last few days. Resilient on the pitch under Neil Warnock, the team had the rug pulled out from underneath them when the club succumbed to mounting debts and went into administration.

A 10-point penalty will inevitably follow, sending Palace plummeting down the table where they will now have to look nervously over their shoulders just one place above the drop zone.

To make matters worse, the administrators’ first decision was to prevent Victor Moses – Palace’s star player and most saleable asset – from playing last night in case he picked up an injury and was thus prevented from moving before the close of the transfer window on Monday evening.

It is a sad plight for a once proud club and a reminder of the disaster that was averted by Newcastle in the summer.