Report and reaction: Palace earn well-fought point vs Newcastle

As it happened:

• Four changes for Palace, with Zaha making his 450th appearance
• Ward, Schlupp, Ayew and Eze return to starting XI
• Almirón volleys into the side-netting from early Willock cross
• Burn and Joelinton force Guaita into simple early saves
• Newcastle increase the pressure as first-half wears on
• Mitchell and Guaita combine to block close-range Joelinton volley
• Édouard and Richards put efforts wide on the stroke of half-time
• HT: Palace 0-0 Newcastle
• Guaita denies Wilson early in the second-half
• Further chances spurned by Newcastle's Guimarães and Botman
• Vieira makes four changes, bringing on Clyne, Hughes, Olise and Mateta
• Mateta forces Pope into spectacular fingertip save from close range
• Newcastle continue to threaten from set-pieces, but Palace hold firm
• Ozoh comes on to become Palace's youngest-ever Premier League player
• FT: Palace 0-0 Newcastle

Buoyed by their midweek draw with Manchester United, but aware of the need to freshen the legs in his side, Patrick Vieira made four changes to his starting XI for the visit of Newcastle.

Introducing players across the park, in came Ward for Clyne in defence; Schlupp for Hughes in midfield; and Eze and Ayew for Olise and Mateta in attack.

The game also offered up the occasion of Zaha’s 450th career appearance for Palace, but it was Newcastle who offered the greater attacking threat early on, Miguel Almirón skewing a volley into the side-netting when well found at the back post by Joe Willock.

The visitors continued to have the better of the cagey opening stages, but created only half-chances as Dan Burn and Joelinton both shot straight at Vicente Guaita from just inside the area.

Perhaps it was to be expected given that the two sides’ earlier meetings in the season had both ended 0-0, but the contest – full of committed challenges – lacked clear chances.

As the opening half wore on, Newcastle attempted to step up the tempo with a succession of long balls forward and set-piece deliveries – and it was a corner-kick which nearly presented them with the opening goal.

Moments after a last-ditch challenge from Zaha denied Almirón the chance to shoot inside the six-yard box, Trippier’s whipped corner landed kindly – via a deflection – for Joelinton to catch on the volley. The strike was fierce, but Mitchell’s brave block took the pace off it, and allowed Guaita to scoop the ball away.

Palace’s best opportunities came in the final moments of the half as Doucouré’s raking ball over the top appeared to set Zaha clear in behind. The winger was tackled, but it broke kindly for Édouard behind him – the Frenchman’s placed effort deflecting wide.

From the subsequent corner, Richards did well to rise highest and win the header, but he could not direct his effort on target.

The second-half began more brightly as a contest, but it was the Magpies who continued to enjoy the clearer opportunities, Wilson heading straight at Guaita when unmarked early on.

Palace did well to hold firm in the face of Newcastle’s direct attacking style, although Guimarães slashed a half-volley past the far post and Botman headed wide when well-placed.

The momentum of the half required shifting, particularly when Zaha’s landmark 450th appearance appeared to be cut short by injury, prompting Vieira to make four changes midway through the second-half.

Those switches appeared to have paid off moments later when a snappy tackle from Hughes and a powerful run from Édouard led to the ball dropping kindly for Mateta near the penalty spot. The substitute's instinctive finish rose flew the top corner but so too, impressively, did Newcastle goalkeeper Pope, whose fingertip save denied Palace in almost unbelievable fashion.

After soaking up further pressure, it was Palace who finished the brighter of the two teams, further spurred on by the late introduction of Academy product David Ozoh from the bench; at 17-years-old, the midfielder duly became the club’s youngest-ever Premier League player.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Ward (Clyne 71), Richards, Guéhi, Mitchell, Doucouré, Schlupp (Hughes 65), Ayew, Eze (Olise 65), Zaha (Mateta 65), Édouard (Ozoh 90)

Subs: Johnstone (GK), Riedewald, Milivojevic, Wells-Morrison

Newcastle: Pope (GK), Trippier, Botman, Schär, Burn, Longstaff, Guimarães, Joelinton, Willock (Saint-Maximin 69), Wilson (Isak 69), Almirón (Murphy 86)

Subs: Dúbravka (GK), Lascelles, Lewis, Manquillo, Anderson, Ritchie

Vieira: We showed another side to our game

20:25

Patrick Vieira was pleased to see his players demonstrate another aspect to their game in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.

Facing a second Champions League-chasing team in the space of four days, Palace once again fought well and competed with high-flying opposition to gain another valuable point.

Vieira said in his post-match press conference: “You always want more, but at the same time we have to realise against the teams that we’ve played [recently] – Chelsea, [Manchester] United and Newcastle – those three teams are in a different level.

“It was important for us to always try to compete as best as we can against those teams, and I think we did well against them. Today again, it wasn’t easy at all, but we competed really well and we got the point I strongly believed we deserved.

“I think the game today showed us that the other side of the game is really important. It’s not just about playing, having the ball and trying to play some nice football – today was all about defending well, sticking together, working well at set-pieces, defending the second ball, and making it really difficult for them.

“That side of the game we did really well. The other side is, when we had the ball, I don’t think we used it well enough to really give them problems or create chances.

“Sometimes you have a plan for the quality of the opposition team that allows you to do what you want to do. That’s why I’m proud of the team: because we wanted to play, to have a position, but we needed to put our sleeves up and show the other side of the game, and we did it well – and that way, we’re going to do well.”

Vieira reserved words of praise for David Ozoh, the 17-year-old Academy graduate who became Palace’s youngest-ever Premier League midfielder upon his introduction in the second-half.

The manager said: “it was good for him to get involved. He’s been training with the first-team the last couple of weeks. Even last year, he spent time with us.

“It was really good to see how he’s improving week after week and he’s somebody that will get involved in training and will be around the first-team because he has the attributes to be a Premier League player.

“He can play and when he gets the ball on the field he remains calm. He’s making some really good decisions in possession and physically he’s gifted and he can compete at that level.

“Now, it is important to keep working with him and help him to develop in the right way.”

Ward: Display was a great example of our togetherness

19:55

Joel Ward felt his side’s display against Newcastle United on Saturday – in which Palace earned another impressive draw at Selhurst Park – typified the squad’s togetherness.

A second well-earned draw against a European-chasing side in the space of four days might even have become a win for Palace had Jean-Philippe Mateta not been denied by a remarkable late Nick Pope save – but Ward was pleased with the 0-0 nevertheless.

Ward told Sky Sports: “You’ve got to take the positives: a clean sheet against a top side.

“It’s always going to be a tough game against Newcastle because of the way they play and the form that they’re in, so I think it was a great point and something to build upon.

“We haven’t always got the results that we’ve wanted this season, and I think today was a great example of our togetherness and resilience, when you’re under pressure, to make sure you come away with something.

“Anyone would look on paper and say it’s been a very tough week we’ve had, so to come away with the last two results we’ve had is brilliant, and we can obviously take that momentum into the next couple of games.”

Ward was also pleased with the collective strength of the display, reflecting: “I think obviously they [Newcastle] possess a lot of threats, so we firstly had to nullify that as a team from back to front

“We wanted to try and exploit the spaces they would leave when they pushed players forwards, but obviously it makes it difficult when games don’t always go the way you want them to. I feel like we, as a team, created a couple of chances and defended really well as a unit.

“Some games you’ve got your back up against the ropes, and it takes a lot of character to continue and make sure you don’t concede, and we did that today – as a unit, from back to front.

“Even from set-pieces, they had a lot of balls they put into the box, and from the size of them you can see their threat, so it was good we saw things out.

“We had a chance at the end when it came in and, on another day, it goes into the back of the net, but we go away with another point – a point in the right direction – and take the positives from the game and build on it."

Full-time

19:22

And so it is! Full-time at Selhurst, and another well-fought point here for Palace this week against a title-chasing side.

90+4 mins

There are a few afters between Joelinton and Olise, and both are booked.

It's looking like a third goalless draw between these two teams this season is on the cards...

90+2 mins

We're well into four added minutes, now - and Ozoh's just enjoyed an assured touch or two near the Newcastle box, allowing Olise to fire in a low cross which is... cleared, just about.

Another strong finish.

A landmark substitution

90 mins

Édouard is coming off, and on comes 17-year-old David Ozoh - officially Palace's youngest-ever Premier League player. Congrats, David!

89 mins

Saint-Maximin nearly wins it for Newcastle. Murphy finds the winger at the back post, but his touch is heavy and two Palace shirts are onto him, forcing him to blaze over.

88 mins

Doucouré is booked as Newcastle break.

There's an interesting final change coming up for Palace, I think...

86 mins

Newcastle make another change: Almirón off, Murphy on.

Are we in for more late drama at Selhurst again tonight? We're on the attack...

84 mins

It just hasn't quite sat for us this half, as Mitchell lifts a promising cross in and Ayew attacks round the back of Burn... ahhhh, our forward flings a long leg at it, but can't quite make contact!

The Magpies break and have another corner... and another missed opportunity, Schär appearing to know little about it as Trippier's corner hits his back and sails over.

78 mins

It's end-to-end now.

A Newcastle corner is flicked on at the near post and almost falls to a white shirt at the far post... I think it was Mateta who does superbly well to flick a leg at the ball and clear away.

Palace attempt to break quickly but Olise can't quite pick out a teammate under pressure on the counter.

Then, Longstaff hangs one up and Isak jumps highest - but again it's right above Guaita, who claims confidently.

75 mins

Hughes is booked in midfield for a tackle on Trippier - the referee looks like he's signalling for accumulation of fouls.

OH - chance!

73 mins

How has that not gone in for Palace?!

It all starts with a good cut-out from Hughes in midfield. Doucouré plays it forwards first time, Édouard struggles to bring it under control given its power but still buscles through, and it breaks and bounces for Mateta to volley from near the penalty spot...

It's a fantastic, venomous effort - and an even more impressive fingertip save from Pope! I can't believe that one didn't find the back of the net.

Newcastle smuggle the corner clear despite the interest of Richards.

Another Palace change

71 mins

Joel Ward's afternoon is over. He comes off to be replaced by Nathaniel Clyne.

70 mins

That's a lovely take from Ayew inside the Newcastle box to bring down a dropping ball, but he's well tracked and the shooting opportunity isn't there. The move breaks down.

69 mins

And now Newcastle shuffle their pack too: Willock and Wilson are off, and on come Saint-Maximin and Isak.

Triple substitution for Palace

65 mins

It does prove to be the case. Zaha comes off for Mateta, and Eze and Schlupp are also replaced by Olise and Hughes.

64 mins

Chance for Botman, who meets Trippier's out-swinging corner - but the Newcastle player anticipates oncoming contact from Doucouré and heads well over.

I don't think Zaha's going to be able to carry on here. The winger has been down a couple of times now clutching his hamstring and there's activity on the Palace bench. An unfortunate way for his 450th appearance to end, if that proves to be the case.

Chance

62 mins

Not far away from Guimarães, whose lashed half-volley just about clears the Palace far post - and Ward who was covering it.

The visitors are getting closer... and just as I type that, Richards has to position himself smartly to stab away Trippier's pull-back in front of his own goal. Corner.

Yellow card

57 mins

It's delightful from Zaha - the close control, the spin, the power all flummoxing Trippier near the halfway line.

The right-back brings our forward down, and is booked.

52 mins

The visitors are setting the tempo early in the second period.

It's Joelinton involved again, pulling back towards Guimarães inside the six-yard area... Palace manage to clear it behind.

Newcastle play it short and Tripper swings in for Wilson - free header, 10 yards out, straight at Guaita.

50 mins

That's better from Palace, as Doucouré and Ward link up promisingly down the right-hand side.

The No.2 is galloping on the overlap and delivers a low ball in towards Ayew, but it's cut out at the last possible moment.

Newcastle go up the other end and it's their right-back, Trippier, who creates the next opportunity, clipping a ball towards Joelinton on the penalty spot... Guéhi gets there first and it's volleyed clear, via a deflection off the Magpies forward.

Play resumes

46 mins

Let's go, lads!

18:32

The two sets of players are back on the pitch and the second-half is moments away.

Ebere Eze will get proceedings back in motion in just a few seconds... plenty for us to work with in that first period.

COME ON PALACE!

18:18

Whilst you're waiting for play to resume, enjoy some of the best images of a combative first-half below!

Half-time

45+3 mins

Quite curiously, the third additional minute isn't played, and the referee sounds the whistle for half-time.

'Scrappy', I think you could fairly call this one so far.

45+1 mins

Another chance!

From the corner, Richards climbs highest - but he's between several competing bodies and can't quite direct his effort on goal.

Three added minutes signalled.

Chance!

45 mins

Oh! The first real Palace chance of the half!

It's a lovely raking pass over the top from Doucouré, landing perfectly for Zaha to run onto. He appears to be hauled back by Trippier but nothing given.

The ball rolls back to Édouard, whose placed finish deflects behind off a Newcastle boot... corner!

44 mins

Referee Craig Pawson has had a busy first-half, as Almirón claims a foul once again, this time off Eze. Free-kick given.

The ball in, thankfully, bounces through to Guaita.

40 mins

The end of the first-half is near and, for the third time this season, these two sides are locked at stalemate.

There's certainly another gear for this contest to click into.

Great save Guaita

35 mins

First, it's a vital last-ditch challenge from Zaha.

The ball looks for all the world like it's breaking for Almirón to shoot near the six-yard area, but the No.11 gets a toe in and smuggles it behind.

From the resulting corner, Ward can only half-clear Trippier's delivery on the stretch and it drops for Joelinton to half-volley goalwards from close range. Mitchell takes the brunt of the effort on his chest and, with the pace lessened, Guaita makes a brilliant reflex save to scoop it away.

Newcastle are upping the pressure here...

33 mins

The game grounds to a momentary halt as Eze goes down injured near the halfway line - but thankfully, after a couple of minutes' treatment, he's back on his feet again.

You sense this is a game waiting to burst into life.

30 mins

Free-kick to Newcastle as Wilson spins between the lines and flicks it over Guéhi, winning the foul.

Neither team has really managed to retain possession for any lengthy period here - or fashion any clear chances - but Trippier might fancy himself from 30 yards or so...

Palace put up a five-man wall in front of Guaita... but it's not needed as Newcastle attempt an inventive set-piece which ends with Mitchell making a brilliant clearing header under pressure from Burn, before Willock volleys over.

Honours even

25 mins

Not a lot to separate these two sides so far, as Willock - pressured by Ward - runs the ball out of play for a goal-kick.

20 mins

A bizarre moment as Schlupp appears to kick the ball off the onrushing Trippier's knee and out of play - but the referee gives the corner.

It was momentary contact, but it was definitely contact.

Thankfully, it comes to nothing.

Moments before, Joelinton tried his luck with a driven low shot from the edge of the box but, again, it's a simple save for our No.13 in goal.

13 mins

Immediately up the other end, Longstaff's low ball in is threatening and forces Guéhi to clear behind for the visitors' first set-piece...

Trippier takes, Guéhi nods clear, but Newcastle play it diagonally and Tripper heads down for Burn - of all people - to lash a half-volley effort goalwards from just inside the box.

There's plenty of power on it but thankfully it's straight at Guaita - El Mejor catches cleanly.

Nice early tempo to this one.

12 mins

Some clever feet from Eze earns the first corner kick of the game out on the left.

Eze steps up to take it - but his in-swinging delivery is headed clear by the gargantuan frame of Dan Burn near the penalty spot.

8 mins

Great defending from Guéhi and Richards.

The duo, who impressed together in midweek, combine to stop Willock from racing onto another Joelinton flick. The ball gets caught between the winger's feet as he races into the area and skips off the turf out of play.

Chance

6 mins

The first chance of the game falls to Newcastle and Miguel Almirón.

It's clever link-up play on the left flank between Willock and Joelinton, the latter feeding the former and giving him plenty of green grass in which to stretch his legs.

Willock's clipped cross lands for Almirón to volley at the far post, but there's not a lot of goal to aim for, and the Paraguayan volleys down and into the side-netting.

Yellow card

4 mins

An early first yellow card of the game goes the way of Marc Guéhi.

The Palace man brought the ball out from the back but overran it slightly in midfield, and is booked for catching the Newcastle defender on the follow-through.

Kick-off

1 min

Sean Longstaff gets the game underway for Newcastle.

I'm feelin'...

17:27

"GLAD ALL OVER!" rings out Selhurst Park. Another incredible atmosphere here tonight.

The teams are given another reading and we're moments away from kick-off. LET'S GO, PALACE!

17:25

As the two teams prepare to emerge from the Selhurst Park tunnel, a reminder of the support from the States...

Vieira: We will create opportunities

17:20

We'll leave the last word to the manager, Patrick Vieira, who told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off: "The performance midweek was quite good. Today we're going to face another team who are playing well at the moment, so it's going to be a different challenge and we will be up for it.

"You always want more and I always want more from the team. We had some good moments in recent games against big teams, and we have to try to compete as best as we can. Today we're playing against a team who are competing for a Champion's League spot so it's going to be challenging for us, but we have quality, we have a good team spirit, and hopefully we can play as well as we want to.

"We played two big games against Chelsea and United so the team needed more fresh legs.

"We will create chances. We will create moments during the game where it will be important for us to take it. At home, we always manage to create chances, so the opportunities will be there."

Zaha: We're full of confidence

17:10

On the occasion of his 450th Palace appearance, Wilfried Zaha has been speaking to the media ahead of kick-off.

"The performance that we gave [in midweek] has given confidence to the lads, and I think that's what we needed to get a result today," he said.

"It's something where we can't play the occasion, we've got to play the games. We've got to just focus on what we're going to do in each game, and you may think it's a big game, but every game is a big game because you've got to try to get three or one point each game. We've got to focus and just keep preparing.

"The main thing that the manager has spoken about is just matching their energy. I feel like that's one thing this team has: they work hard for each other every single game, so the main thing for us is to just match their energy, and eventually, our talent will shine."

The forward has just laced one into the top corner from right in front of us in the press box - he's in the mood!

17:00

30 minutes to go until kick-off, and we're in awe of the global support backing the Eagles this evening (or afternoon, if you're State-side)!

COME ON PALACE!

16:50

As already mentioned, this will be the Eagles’ third meeting with Newcastle this season, having made the journey to St James’ Park twice before the World Cup break.

A colossal performance from Guaita earned Palace a point in the league encounter, while a young side were unlucky to exit the League Cup on penalties in November.

Palace took the lead in last season’s Selhurst Park fixture, with a towering Christian Benteke header cancelled out by Callum Wilson as the points were shared.

Update from Orlando!

16:40

How about this, eh? Over in Orlando, 'Challenger’, who is regarded as the most famous American bald eagle, is representing the club as part of a collaboration with Tennessee-based charity American Eagle Foundation.

It's the first time an eagle has been involved with the club since the passing of Kayla in the summer of 2020, following a decade of service at Selhurst Park.

Supporters attending the Premier League Mornings Live event are able to have their picture taken alongside Challenger and his handlers, whilst learning more about the bird of prey and the Foundation who cares for him.

Read more about Challenger here - and find the best pictures as they come in here!

The teams are in

16:30

It's four changes for Palace from midweek.

Reintroduced to the starting XI are Joel Ward, who takes the captain’s armband; Jeffrey Schlupp; Jordan Ayew; and Ebere Eze.

Available from the substitutes’ bench against Newcastle are Nathaniel Clyne, Will Hughes, Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

As a result of the changes, goalkeeper Vicente Guaita – who this week put pen-to-paper on a contract extension – will be shielded by defenders Ward, Chris Richards, Marc Guéhi and Tyrick Mitchell.

In midfield ahead of them are likely to be Schlupp and Cheick Doucouré, supporting an attacking quartet of Ayew, Eze, Wilfried Zaha – making his landmark 450th appearance for Palace – and Odsonne Édouard.

Two Academy prospects present additional midfield options from the bench in the shape of 17-year-old David Ozoh and 18-year-old Jack Wells-Morrison; the former, if introduced, would become Palace’s youngest-ever Premier League player.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Ward, Richards, Guéhi, Mitchell, Doucouré, Schlupp, Ayew, Eze, Zaha, Édouard

Subs: Johnstone (GK), Clyne, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Hughes, Wells-Morrison, Ozoh, Olise, Mateta

Newcastle: Pope (GK), Trippier, Botman, Schär, Burn, Longstaff, Guimarães, Joelinton, Willock, Wilson, Almirón

Subs: Dúbravka (GK), Lascelles, Lewis, Manquillo, Anderson, Murphy, Ritchie, Saint-Maximin, Isak

16:20

Ten minutes until team news time - and that Red and Blue feeling is present all the way from South London to Orlando!

16:10

This weekend's programme features an in-depth interview with Nathaniel Clyne, who could be in line to make his ninth consecutive start in all competitions today.

“I’m the type of player that leads by example,” he says. “Follow how I prepare for games, how I am in training. I still work hard in training, I don’t take my foot off the gas. I pre-activate well, I don’t miss gym sessions. All that stuff is what youngsters can take in for the good of the team."

Also inside, hear from Doc Brown, Patrick Vieira, Luka Milivojevic, Natalia Negri, Dave Cooper and many more...

You can get your hands on the Newcastle programme from vendors in and around Selhurst Park for just £3.50. You can also order programmes online for delivery straight to your door. You’ll need to do this at least three days before the game.

Alternatively, you can read a digital version right now for £1.99 by clicking here or below.

16:00

Wilfried Zaha is in the building.

The Palace No.11 could be set to make his 450th career appearance for Crystal Palace this evening, should he play against Newcastle.

It's another brilliant milestone for the Palace Academy graduate.

It's a unique matchday in the USA!

15:50

Today's match against Newcastle at Selhurst Park is the primetime game in the Premier League Mornings Live event, which brings together US-based football fans to watch the weekend’s fixtures.

Also represented by legendary American bald eagle Challenger, as well as mascot Pete the Eagle, Palace supporters are backing the Red and Blue loud and proud at Universal CityWalk, Orlando.

We'll bring you pictures and updates from Florida as we get them!

15:40

As always, there are plenty of ways to follow how Palace get on this evening, whether you’re planning on joining us at Selhurst or watching on from afar.

We'll be providing live updates right here and via our Match Centre, where as well as a range of stats and facts, you can also find all the build-up to the game you could possibly need.

Then, one hour before kick-off (16:30 GMT), attention turns to team news across all our web, app and social (Twitter and Instagram) channels.

During the game, Palace TV+ offers live audio commentary, and there’ll be instant reaction across all our channels on the final whistle as well.

Alternatively, the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Explore How to Follow here.

Good afternoon, Palace!

15:30

And welcome to our live coverage from Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace are gearing up to face Newcastle United in another mouthwatering Premier League encounter.

It’s the third time this season these two sides have met, the other two both being goalless draws at St James’ Park – one in the league, and another game eventually won on penalties by the Magpies in the Carabao Cup.

The aim for Patrick Vieira’s side, then, will be to play with the same confidence – and, in the case of Michael Olise’s wonderful free-kick, precision in front of goal – which earned them an impressive 1-1 draw against an in-form Manchester United side here on Wednesday night.

We’ll have all the build-up from SE25 right here – and the best of the action too from Orlando, where Premier League Mornings Live is in full flow! Stay tuned and keep refreshing this page.