Source: Northern_Echo
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE UNITED 2
NEWCASTLE outclassed a lacklustre Crystal Palace despite Chris Hughton only having one fit striker at his disposal.
Andy Carroll's absence forced the manager to play a 4-5-1 formation with Kevin Nolan and Danny Guthrie supporting lone targetman Shola Ameobi. And the tactic worked a treat in the first half as Nolan grabbed his debut league Newcastle goal while Ryan Taylor scored from a sublime long-range effort.
Nolan calmly slid a low shot under Darryl Flahavan after just 99 seconds to grag his debut league strike for the Magpies after Jonas Gutierrez' cross-field ball had carved open the Palace defence. More good work from Gutierrez, who ran the midfield all afternoon, teed up Taylor who curled home a superbly-judged left foot effort from 20 yards.
Despite Newcastle dominating affairs, the home side created a host of chances in the first half and Steve Harper did well to deny former colleague Darren Ambrose and Palace forward Freddie Sears.
After the break, the home side pressed for a way back into the game but found their way blocked by a resolute Magpies rearguard - Fabricio Colocinni's last ditch tackle on Alassane N'Diaye being the highlight of an asured defensive display from the centre-half. The Argentine struggled to justify his price tag in the Premier League but faced with an admittedly tame Palace attack he oozed calm authority. And his international team-mate Gutierrez enjoyed a similarly comfortable afternoon, picking passes at will and setting up wave after wave of Nedwcastle attacks.
Nile Ranger and Nicky Butt came on mid-way through the second half to add impetus as Newcastle eased up but Palace had little to offer. At times the game looked like a pre-season friendly such was the ease with which Newcastle passed the ball around at will as the home side huffed and puffed.
Attendance: 20,643
