St James’ Park just doesn’t feel like a friendly place for the South Londoners anymore. Honestly, if you’re a Crystal Palace fan, travelling up to Tyneside has basically become a ritual of frustration. We just saw it again on January 4, 2026, when Newcastle United kicked off the new year by professionally dismantling Oliver Glasner’s side 2-0.
It wasn't a fluke. It was a pattern.
Newcastle is currently sitting 9th in the Premier League, and while that might not sound like the "richest club in the world" dominance people expected two years ago, their handle on teams like Palace is total. You’ve got to look at the stats to really feel the weight of it. In the last 13 matchups at St James’, the Magpies have walked away with nine wins. Palace? They’ve managed to score in only two of their last eight league meetings with Newcastle. That is a staggering level of "toothlessness," as some fans on Reddit were quick to point out after the latest defeat.
The Bruno Guimarães Factor in NUFC vs Crystal Palace
Every game needs a protagonist. In this specific matchup, it’s almost always Bruno Guimarães. The guy is a magnet for the ball. During the 2-0 win a few weeks ago, he wasn't just playing; he was conducting. He hit the crossbar from a corner—nearly pulling off a second consecutive "Olimpico" after doing it against Burnley—and then popped up in the 71st minute to head home the opener.
Eddie Howe’s tactical shift mid-game was the real turning point, though. He’s got this knack for "bold triple subs" that actually work. Bringing on Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento around the hour mark completely stretched a Palace defense that had actually been quite disciplined up until then.
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Why Palace Keep Falling Short
It’s easy to blame the manager, but Glasner is working with a squad that looks a bit "run down." Selling Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for £60 million last summer was a massive financial win, but you can see the hole it left in their creativity. Brennan Johnson, who they brought in from Spurs for £35 million as a replacement, made his debut in that January clash. He looked okay. Promising, even. But he’s not Eze yet.
Palace’s strategy usually involves:
- Gritty defensive organization (Marc Guéhi is still a rock, despite the scoreline).
- Exploiting gaps on the counter-attack.
- Relying on Jean-Philippe Mateta to turn half-chances into goals.
But against Newcastle’s high press, that "gritty resilience" eventually cracks. Malick Thiaw, the German center-back Newcastle snatched from Milan, is proving to be a nightmare for strikers like Mateta. He didn't just defend well; he grabbed the second goal in the 78th minute during a goalmouth scramble.
Historical Context: A Century of "Almost"
If you go way back—like 1907 back—Palace actually beat Newcastle 1-0 in the FA Cup. But since then? It’s been a long road of Magpie dominance. Newcastle has 33 wins to Palace’s 13 over 58 total meetings.
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There was a weird period where they couldn't stop drawing 0-0. Remember the 2022-23 season? They played three times in all competitions and didn't score a single goal between them in normal time. It was the "Stoppable Force vs. Immovable Object" era of the rivalry. Lately, though, the shackles are off. The 5-0 drubbing Newcastle handed them in April 2025 was a brutal reminder of the gap in quality when the Toon actually clicks.
What to Expect for the April 11 Rematch
Mark your calendars for April 11, 2026. The scene shifts to Selhurst Park. This is where things get interesting. Newcastle is fighting for a Europa League spot—they’re only three points off at the moment—while Palace is hovering in 14th, safely away from relegation but lacking that "spark" to climb higher.
Tickets are already hitting the resale market for around $87, which is actually a steal for a London-based Prem game. If you're going, keep an eye on Lewis Miley. The kid is only 19 and he’s already picking up Player of the Match awards against seasoned pros like Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma. He provided the assist for Bruno’s goal last time out and looked like he had about ten years more experience than he actually does.
Tactical Chess: Howe vs Glasner
Howe likes the 4-3-3. It’s aggressive. It’s fast.
Glasner prefers a 3-4-2-1, trying to wing-back Newcastle to death.
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The problem for Palace is that Newcastle’s full-backs, specifically Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, are basically wingers anyway. They don’t just defend; they overload the wide areas. In the last match, Palace’s Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell spent more time tracking back than they did providing service for Mateta. It’s a exhausting way to play football.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following this rivalry closely, here are a few things that actually matter for the next time they meet:
- Watch the First 15 Minutes: Newcastle under Howe tries to "blow teams away" early at home, but away at Selhurst, they tend to be more cautious. Palace has a habit of starting slow—they were "slow out of the blocks" in January, according to local reports.
- The Set-Piece Struggle: Palace is currently struggling to defend corners. Both of Newcastle’s goals in their 2-0 win came from situations originating from corners. If Glasner doesn't fix the marking, Thiaw or Schär will punish them again.
- Player Health: Keep a close eye on Anthony Gordon’s fitness. He had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR in the last game but remains the primary engine for Newcastle’s transitions. Without him, they become much more predictable.
- The "New Year" Momentum: Newcastle has a habit of finding their stride in the second half of the season. After a rocky end to 2025, they’ve started 2026 with back-to-back wins.
The gap between these two clubs is currently defined by depth. Newcastle can bring Harvey Barnes off the bench to terrorize tired legs; Palace is still trying to figure out how to get their new signings to gel in a system that demands 100% intensity for 90 minutes. April's fixture at Selhurst Park will be the ultimate test of whether Glasner can adapt, or if Newcastle will simply continue their march toward European qualification at the Eagles' expense.
To stay updated on the latest lineup changes and injury reports before the April 11 clash, you should check the official Premier League app or the Newcastle United match center roughly 60 minutes before kickoff. That's usually when the tactical surprises—like Howe’s recent preference for Yoane Wissa over more established names—become clear.