Newcastle 2-1 Crystal Palace

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Newcastle started 2026 with a much needed win at home to Crystal Palace, making it consecutive victories in the league for just the second time this season.

And for all the doom and gloom - in just the last match report I claimed Champions League qualification was impossible - winning the first of four consecutive home games (three in the league) puts us just two points off fifth place.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, this was a fairly poor game between two average teams, of which we were certainly the better, but it certainly wasn't a full-blooded, barnstorming win.

That said, there were definite positives on display.

Another captain's performance from Bruno, nodding us in front with 20 to play, another classy performance from Thiaw, who scrambled home the second seven minutes later, a first clean sheet in THIRTEEN(!), and the continued blossoming of Miley at right back.

A passing mention is clearly insufficient for Miley, who was awarded Man Of The Match for the third time in the five games he's so far played out of position and completed the most dribbles and finished the game with an assist and a 100% pass completion rate.

Simply outstanding, and the sky's the limit for the lad.

Wissa up front again put in another encouraging performance and looked fit and willing to run in behind all game, unselfishly playing in Gordon for a tap in which was ruled out for a marginal offside (apparently the 5cm tolerance for offsides favouring the attacker only applies to Liverpool).

Joelinton also looked back to something approaching his best, also finishing well from an offside position in the first half.

However, problems persist on the wings where Gordon certainly didn't have an awful game, but looked simply ineffective once again, unlike Barnes when he came on.

On the other side Murphy did simply have an awful game where absolutely nothing came off for him, and that right side is now starting to look like a real area of concern.

Tonali continues to misfire and was frustrated to be substituted, and both Ramsey and Willock failed to impact the game when they came on.

Willock did unfortunately make the highlights reel with a woeful open goal miss in stoppage time, something that certainly won't have added any zeroes to our asking price for him - especially given today's opponents have been touted as a likely destination.

With our next two league games being Leeds at home and Wolves away, we simply must build on the last two results if we want to seriously push up the table.

With only three of our next seven games being league games, however, it remains to be seen how well this squad can juggle four (for now) competitions.