With a 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace, NEWCASTLE UNITED brightened up a challenging week by moving up to fifth place in the Premier League standings.
Sandro Tonali, who is currently at the center of an Italian betting scandal, came on as a substitute in the second half of Eddie Howe’s team’s resounding victory at St. James’ Park, which helped them prepare for their Champions League home match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Jacob Murphy was the star of the show, scoring one goal and claiming two assists, with Anthony Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson also getting their names onto the scoresheet.
Murphy’s right-wing link-up with Kieran Trippier was far too much for England full-back Tyrick Mitchell, who struggled throughout, with Palace’s failure to score meaning Newcastle have now achieved clean sheets in four of their last five home matches in all competitions.
The game’s main subplot involved Tonali, who was named on the substitutes’ bench despite being interviewed by Italian prosecutors this week as part of an investigation into illegal gambling that could result in him being banned for around a year.
Eddie Howe urged Newcastle fans to show their support for Tonali in the build-up to the game, and they responded by unfurling a ‘Forza Tonali’ flag on the Gallowgate End prior to kick-off. Tonali’s name was also sung at various stages of the afternoon, and he was loudly applauded as he left the dugout to warm up on the touchline for the first time midway through the first half. The cheers were even louder when he came onto the field as a 69th-minute replacement for Bruno Guimaraes.
With Tonali on the bench at kick-off, Newcastle started with Joelinton in midfield and a front three comprised of Murphy, Wilson and Gordon. Four minutes in, and the former was celebrating opening the scoring.
Fabian Schar picked out Trippier with a raking ball to the right touchline, the full-back flicked forward into the path of Murphy, and the winger lofted a deft finish over Sam Johnstone and into the far corner of the net.
The goal was initially ruled out after the assistant flagged for offside against Trippier, but a VAR check showed the full-back was just onside when Schar drilled the ball into his direction. As a result, the on-field decision was overturned.
Jean-Phillipe Mateta headed wide from a corner as Palace tried to respond, with Tyrick Mitchell also volleying over after another corner was cleared into his path, but Newcastle were the dominant force for most of the afternoon and regularly threatened to extend their lead.
Murphy came close to grabbing a second goal with a fizzing low drive that was beaten out by Johnstone low to his left, before Gordon wasted a glorious opportunity on the half-hour mark.
Johnstone could only palm Murphy’s right-wing cross into Gordon’s path, but the winger volleyed against the crossbar from the edge of the six-yard box with the goal seemingly at his mercy.
Wilson headed a Trippier cross over the bar ten minutes before the break, but with Palace’s defence unable to cope with the speed and fluidity of Newcastle’s attacking, the hosts effectively settled the game with two goals in two minutes at the end of the first half.
Gordon scored the first, atoning for his earlier miss when he expertly converted Murphy’s right-wing cross with a first-time side-footed volley at the back post.
Sean Longstaff added a goal of his own just over a minute over, seizing on a loose ball after Marc Guehi made a complete hash of trying to deal with a long ball from Fabian Schar. Having gained possession, Longstaff strolled into the area before slotting a clinical finish past Johnstone.
Murphy almost set up another goal on the hour mark with a break and low cross that Joel Ward just about managed to scramble over his own crossbar, but with a three-goal advantage defend, Newcastle’s players understandably took their foot off the gas somewhat in the second half.
They were still able to add a fourth goal in the 67th minute, with the link-up play between Trippier and Murphy on the right-hand side once again key.
Murphy was sent scurrying down the flank by Trippier, and when he sent a low cross into the area, Wilson took only one touch to get the ball under control before slipping a precise finish past Johnstone.
After the goal, there were numerous home substitutions, but Nick Pope’s outstanding stop in the 85th minute, heading Odsonne Edouard’s free kick over the crossbar, ensured Newcastle would end with a clean sheet.
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