By OUR CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER at Selhurst Park
JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA proved he is the King of Croydon as his late double act completed a sensational Selhurst turnaround.
Newcastle thought they had finally cured their away-day blues when young gun Will Osula slid home a first-half opener. But Eddie Howe’s men have a glass jaw this season, and Palace shattered it with two goals in the final ten minutes to leave the Toon Army heading back to Tyneside in a state of shock.
The Magpies have now dropped a staggering 25 points from winning positions this term—the worst in the Premier League. For under-fire Howe, this felt like a knockout blow.
Oliver Glasner, fresh from a midweek European win over Fiorentina, left his star striker on the bench for sixty minutes. But with the Eagles trailing and looking toothless, he unleashed the Frenchman.
The impact was instant. On 80 minutes, Mateta rose highest to thump home a header from Tyrick Mitchell’s inch-perfect cross. It was a fairy-tale moment for Mitchell, who became the youngest Palace player to reach 200 Premier League appearances.
As the clock ticked into injury time, Selhurst Park exploded. Sven Botman, returning to a side that looked increasingly leggy, foolishly pulled back Jefferson Lerma in the box.
Referee Andy Madley didn’t hesitate, pointing to the spot. Up stepped Mateta, cooler than a London winter, to slot the ball past Aaron Ramsdale and send the Holmesdale End into delirium.
Newcastle had their chances—Ramsdale produced a world-class double save early on to deny Yeremy Pino and Daniel Munoz—but they retreated into their shells the moment Mateta stepped onto the pitch.
While Palace leapfrog the Magpies into 13th, the pressure on Eddie Howe has reached a boiling point. For Glasner and his star-studded bench, it was a masterclass in how to win a game from the dugout.
MATCH RATINGS
CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson 7; Richards 7, Lacroix 8, Guehi 7; Munoz 7, Lerma 8, Canvot 6, Mitchell 9; Pino 7, Kamada 6; Nketiah 5.
Subs: Mateta 10 (Star Man), Sarr 7, Wharton 8.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Ramsdale 7; Livramento 6, Thiaw 5, Botman 4, Hall 5; Miley 7, Tonali 5, Joelinton 4; Murphy 6, Osula 7, Gordon 5.
Subs: Wissa 5, Elanga 5.