Crystal Palace 1:1 Newcastle – Match report: Guehi could only help to a limited extent

Newcastle United were – rightly – frustrated as a late equalizer earned them a 1-1 draw, while Crystal Palace once again failed to climb the Premier League table at Selhurst Park.

Marc Guehi, of all people, gave the Magpies the lead with an own goal midway through the second half, but Daniel Muñoz’s stoppage-time header ensured the hosts escaped with a point.

The result leaves Eddie Howe’s side in 10th place, mired in mediocrity and with questions surrounding the gaffer’s safety in the post and his future within the organization if things don’t improve quickly.

Furthermore, perhaps the most important thing about Saturday’s draw was the forced substitution of Alexander Isak after the striker landed awkwardly on his hip following a foul.

Yes, the injury allowed Callum Wilson to get a few more minutes in his second appearance of the season after Monday’s debut, but that was all this development – nothing Bueno.

Substituting Wilson didn’t help much, and so Anthony Gordon was moved to the middle of the pitch to act as a makeshift striker, an adjustment that ultimately disrupted Newcastle’s flow more than anything else and helped prevent the Magpies from getting into the game The game had a single shot on goal in the first half.

Muñoz had a golden chance to put the hosts ahead but somehow missed from close range, setting the tone for a heated duel and an ominous foretaste of what was to come.

Newcastle’s breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when Anthony Gordon won a free kick near the Palace penalty area. Gordon fired a cross into the six-yard box and Palace captain Guehi could only deflect the ball into his own net, giving Newcastle the lead against the run of play.

From that moment on, Palace pressed on desperately, forcing Nick Pope and the Newcastle defense to make several crucial interventions – to no avail.

Muñoz, who missed chances at the start of the game, finally made amends in the 94th minute. Guehi himself delivered a cross that Muñoz headed into the bottom corner, securing a point for the hosts and contributing to Newcastle’s disastrous league season.

“We didn’t handle the game well enough in the final stages,” Howe said after the game. “It’s disappointing because we were in control after the goal and we should have gone for it.”

As if things weren’t bad enough, Newcastle will host league leaders Liverpool at short notice next Wednesday and will try to at least not lose by more than three or four goals. Here is hope!