Goals:

1-0: Townsend (59, powered a brilliant curling free-kick inside the far post from 22 yards)

Bookings: Mbemba (7, foul); Colback (66, foul)

Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral) – had to give the penalty for Sissoko’s handball and otherwise kept control of a keenly contested fixture. 7

Attendance: 52,106

Entertainment: PPPP

Newc CPal

Shots on 4 3

Shots off 6 6

Corners 4 8

Offsides 2 1

Fouls 11 12

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1):

9 DARLOW: Delivered a performance, and a penalty save, which will be remembered on Tyneside if it keeps them up;

7 Anita: Has slotted in seamlessly to the right-back role and he could find himself playing there more often

8 Mbemba: Strong in the tackle and made life difficult for Wickham and Co

8 Lascelles: Made a stunning first half block and epitomised the spirit of the whole team

7 Dummett: Has brought greater balance back to the team after returning to the left-back role after injury;

7 Tiote: Looks hungrier to impress again under Benitez and that has added something extra to the Magpies midfield

7 Colback: Linking well with Tiote in the middle and will be a key pairing in the final two games;

8 Townsend: Always the liveliest of Newcastle’s forwards and his free-kick was beautiful

7 Sissoko: Only he will know why he had his hand in the air in the penalty area but he was a strong runner throughout

7 Wijnaldum: An important player in the first half for Newcastle and could have scored himself;

6 Cisse: A few stray touches but got through plenty of work in both halves of the pitch

Subs:

Mitrovic (for Cisse 73)

Perez (for Wijnaldum 80)

Shelvey (for Anita 88)

Subs (not used): Woodman (gk), Mbabu, Taylor, de Jong

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 6; Ward 5, Dann 6, Delaney 7, Souare 6; Cabaye 5, JEDINAK 7; Bolasie 7, McArthur 6 (Sako 60, 5), Puncheon 5 (Gayle 73); Wickham 5 (Adebayor 74). Subs (not used): Mariappa, McCarthy (gk), Ledley, Kelly.

MAN OF THE MATCH: KARL Darlow – who else? The third choice keeper could be a lot higher in the manager’s thinking next season, which ever division the Magpies are in.