Football is a funny game, honestly. One week you’re convinced a team is destined for the drop, and the next they’re putting in a defensive masterclass that makes you question everything you thought you knew about the Premier League table. That’s exactly the vibe we got earlier this month when Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United rolled around at St. James' Park.
If you just looked at the 2-0 scoreline in favor of the Magpies on January 4th, you’d think it was a routine day at the office for Eddie Howe’s men. It wasn’t. Not even close.
Palace arrived in the North East amidst a bit of a crisis. Oliver Glasner, the man who brought them that euphoric FA Cup win last year, has basically checked out. He’s leaving at the end of the season. The fans know it. The players know it. And yet, for about 70 minutes, they looked like a team that actually had a plan. They dominated the shot count in the first half. Will Hughes was pulling strings, and new boy Brennan Johnson—who cost a pretty penny this winter—looked sharp on his debut.
Then, the "Newcastle Factor" kicked in.
The Tactical Stranglehold of Newcastle United
Newcastle has this weird superpower lately. They’ve now won ten straight Premier League games against teams that play a back three or a back five. It’s like Eddie Howe has found the cheat code for breaking down wing-back systems. Palace, stubbornly committed to Glasner’s 3-4-2-1, walked right into the trap.
It’s about patience. Newcastle didn’t panic when Yoane Wissa had a goal chalked off by VAR for a shoulder being an inch offside. They didn't even blink when Joelinton’s strike was ruled out later. They just kept grinding.
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The breakthrough came from the captain, Bruno Guimarães. In the 71st minute, he sniffed out a bouncing ball in the box and headed it home. It was scrappy. It was ugly. It was exactly what Newcastle needed to break the deadlock. Seven minutes later, Malick Thiaw—who is quietly becoming one of the best defenders in the league—poked home a second from a corner. Game over.
But what does this actually tell us about where these two clubs are heading?
The Crystal Palace Identity Crisis
Honestly, Palace is in a bit of a mess. Sitting 13th or 14th (depending on the day’s results) isn't the end of the world, but the "nine games without a win" stat is hanging over Selhurst Park like a dark cloud.
Glasner’s announcement that he’s leaving for a "new challenge" has left a leadership vacuum. You’ve got players like Marc Guéhi and Adam Wharton who are clearly top-six quality, playing for a manager who is already halfway out the door. It’s a tough sell for the fans.
The silver lining? Brennan Johnson. His debut was genuinely bright. He brings a directness that Palace has lacked since Michael Olise headed for Munich. If they can get him and Jean-Philippe Mateta clicking, they’ll be fine. But "fine" isn't what the Palace faithful were dreaming of after last season’s silverware.
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Newcastle’s Injury Curse Continues
On the other side of the coin, Newcastle is winning but they’re doing it with a squad held together by medical tape. Looking at the injury list for January 2026 is actually depressing if you’re a Toon fan:
- Fabian Schär: Ankle ligaments (Out until April)
- Tino Livramento: Hamstring (Out until March)
- Jacob Murphy: Leg injury
- Dan Burn: Rib/Lung issues (Slowly returning)
How Eddie Howe keeps them in the hunt for European spots is beyond me. They’re 9th right now, just a point off the top six. They’re surviving on pure grit and the individual brilliance of Bruno and Anthony Gordon.
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United: What History Tells Us
Historically, this hasn't always been the Newcastle show. In 58 meetings, Newcastle has 33 wins to Palace’s 13. But if you look at the recent trend, Palace has failed to score in six of their last eight league games against the Magpies.
There’s a mental block there. Palace can play all the pretty football they want in the middle of the pitch, but when they see those black and white stripes, the goals just dry up. Even with Raphinha and Mateta leading the line in previous iterations of this clash, the result often ends with Newcastle’s defense standing tall.
The Real Takeaway for Fans
If you’re a Palace fan, stop worrying about the table and start worrying about the "post-Glasner" era. The club needs a manager who can convince the young stars to stay. Without a clear direction, this summer could be a fire sale.
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For Newcastle fans, the January transfer window isn't just a luxury; it’s a necessity. With Schär and Livramento out long-term, they need defensive reinforcements immediately if they want to leapfrog the likes of Aston Villa or Tottenham.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
- Watch the Set Pieces: Newcastle scored both goals from "second phase" set pieces in the last meeting. Palace’s zonal marking is failing them in high-pressure moments.
- Monitor the "Manager Effect": Keep an eye on Palace’s form over the next three games. If the "clarity" Glasner promised doesn't manifest in points, the board might have to pull the trigger on an early exit to save the season.
- The Johnson Factor: Brennan Johnson is the key. If he starts on the right, he forces Newcastle's Lewis Hall (or whoever is filling in) to stay deep, neutralizing Newcastle’s attacking full-backs.
The next time these two meet, don't expect a 5-0 blowout like some of the historical anomalies suggest. Expect a tactical chess match where the team that blinks first during a 70th-minute corner loses the points. Newcastle has the muscle, but Palace has the technical ability—they just need to remember how to use it.
Keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of Tyneside over the next fortnight; that’s where the real story of Newcastle’s season will be written. Palace, meanwhile, just needs to find a way to score a goal before their fans lose patience entirely.
Next Steps for You
- Check the latest Premier League table to see how the gap between 9th and 14th is shifting after the mid-week fixtures.
- Follow the Crystal Palace managerial rumors specifically looking for links to Thomas Frank or even a potential return for a veteran "firefighter" if results don't improve.
- Track the Newcastle transfer news for any movement on a center-back; the lack of depth behind Malick Thiaw is currently their biggest vulnerability.