Eddie Howe’s side didn’t deserve the first half advantage given to them at Selhurst Park by the recalled Will Osula, who scored the game’s opening goal with Newcastle’s first first shot two minutes before half-time. But it should have given them the springboard to go on and see out a desperately needed victory against a side for which the Premier League is now an afterthought this season.
But considering the Magpies had lost 22 points from winning positions prior to their trip to Selhurst Park, the full-time outcome should surprise nobody. Jean-Philippe Mateta was called from the bench and changed the game in the second half, heading in Palace’s equaliser with 10 minutes to play and scoring the winner from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Mateta followed Brian Brobbey's lead in bullying Newcastle, whose soft underbelly was once again embarrassingly exposed. Three more points blown from a position of strength and the 25 dropped across the campaign is a Premier League high. What Newcastle also blew is an opportunity to close the gap on the European places. Instead, they slipped to 14th. The pressure increases on Howe.
After a long and painful three-week stoppage, the head coach made something of a statement with his team selection. Dan Burn and Nick Woltemade were among the victims as Howe made six changes, Osula getting the nod up-front with Anthony Gordon shifting back to the left.
But the alterations hardly had the desired effect, for the Magpies were so flat in the first half, even if they did lead at the interval. Where was the energy? Where was the desire to right the wrongs of Sunderland? And why on earth are Newcastle so incapable of seeing games out and preserving leads? Where’s the leadership? Why is the game management so appallingly bad? Is it a fitness issue? Yoane Wissa was thrown on deep in stoppage time and Aaron Ramsdale charged forward for a corner in the dying seconds. It all felt desperate.
The first half was a complete non-event until Ramsdale made a fine double save 10 minutes before the beak.
Osula, a spectator in attack up to that point, lost possession on halfway, allowing Brennan Johnson to pick out Yeremy Pino, who cut inside on his right foot and took aim for the far corner, denied by a stretching Ramsdale who quickly lifted himself off the deck to keep out the rebound from Daniel Munoz.
Ramsdale was fortunate a moment or two later, however, for he was caught in no man’s land and clawed wildly at a corner from the left. How relieved he will have been when Jaydee Canvot somehow header over from close range. Only the bravery of Lewis Hall then denied Munoz a headed opener.
As the first half ticked towards its conclusion, the biggest positive for Howe was the fact his side weren’t behind. But then finally came some attacking quality, and it resulted in the opener.
Captain for the day Jacob Murphy, Sandro Tonali and the fit again Lewis Miley linked up well on the right, and the teenage midfielder’s cross was bundled home by the unmarked Osula at the second time of asking.
The goal sparked an improvement from the Magpies, who should have doubled their lead early in the second half when Osula pounced on a Chris Richards mistake but the striker couldn’t take advantage and was denied by Dean Henderson. Newcastle were on top but would regret not stretching their lead.
Palace had lost their way after falling behind and, apart from a Pino shot that curled over, didn’t trouble Newcastle until Glasner turned to his bench.
Adam Wharton, Ismaila Sarr and Mateta were introduced and inspired an upturn from the hosts. It was Mateta who won a free-kick in a grapple with Malick Thiaw and from the set-piece Jefferson Lerma had a glorious chance to level but the unmarked midfielder saw his close-range header crash back off the crossbar.
Howe freshened things up with Harvey Barnes replacing Gordon. He’ll have wished he’d taken Joelinton off, for soon after the Brazilian was booked for a tackle on Mateta that will result in a two-match ban, ruling the midfielder out of next week’s visit of Bournemouth and the trip to Arsenal.
And Newcastle will have wished Mateta hadn’t been introduced, for the striker powered home Palace’s leveller 10 minutes from time. Munoz’s cross from the right caught Livamento out and found the advanced Tyrick Mitchell. Ramsdale hesitated which allowed the left wing-back to square for Mateta to head in.
It got worse. The penalty was soft but Sven Botman had a hold of Lerma's shirt and Mateta did the rest.