DESPITE a three-week break, Newcastle United's malaise persists - Eddie Howe now has just six games to save both the season and potentially his job.
As the Magpies lined up at Selhurst Park on Sunday (April 12), an agonising 21 days had passed since the timorous performance in the 2-1 home loss to local rivals Sunderland (March 22).
During the international break, players and management had several weeks to reflect on that defeat, which should have been used as fuel to propel them forward.
The needed break in play came after a congested fixture schedule, which saw Newcastle play twice, sometimes thrice, every week since the start of November.
And who better to come up against than a Crystal Palace side with very little to play for in the Premier League, that only had a two-day rest period since their 3-0 defeat of Fiorentina in the Conference League on Thursday (April 9).
For Newcastle's visit, the South London side benched five of their players from the midweek clash, including two of their goal scorers: Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, with the former going on to make a big impact following his introduction in the 65th minute.
While in Newcastle's starting line-up, there were returns for the previously injured Sandro Tonali - who, despite his heroics for the Azzurri, was unable to guide Italy to a first World Cup since 2014 - and starlet Lewis Miley, who had not featured since the 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain on January 28.
Even before a ball was kicked, what was damning, however, was that Newcastle had roughly £230 million worth of summer 2025 signings sitting on the bench (Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey).
It was the unlikely figure of young Will Osula - the club's third choice striker at the start of the season - who scrambled the ball into the net on the 43rd minute, to give Howe's side a 1-0 lead going into half time.
William Osula poked Newcastle in front on the stroke of halftime (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
But just as the sky is blue, Newcastle would, of course, fail to grab a second goal to consolidate their lead, but rather concede two late goals to the aforementioned Mateta, squandering the chance to come home with any points.
The validity of the 94th-minute penalty decision will be disputed; nevertheless, the facts remain: Newcastle are still conceding late in games and has handed over points week after week.
It's 25 points now surrendered from winning positions in the Premier League. If those points were won, Newcastle would be sitting near the top on 67 points.
"Those numbers are incredible, really, and it's blighted our season," Howe told PA.
"The fact that we haven't been able to not just consolidate really good passages of the game, but go on and score more goals and continue to attack. I've said many times that’s not the tactical instruction we give the players.
"We don't want to go 1-0 up and change the mentality of defending, but we've done it, so I can't say it hasn’t happened.
"But then if you are going to defend, you're going to have to defend better than we did.
"It was a game of few chances, but we still looked vulnerable towards the end of the game; that's hugely disappointing.
"The first goal we conceded, I think, is self-inflicted, not good enough - it's come through a minimal threat, and of course the second goal is an individual error with very little time left in the game."
Eddie Howe has addressed the high number of points Newcastle has dropped from winning positions this season (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The headlines and the paper talk will rightfully focus on the points that were thrown away, and the unfortunate pressure that piles onto Howe.
There is no running away from those horrifying statistics; the game management this season has been woeful. Time and time again, Newcastle are just giving away points late into games - I feel like a broken record, but it has to be highlighted.
The buck stops with the manager, but the players also need to take their own share of responsibility for those consistent lapses in concentration. Individual errors are costing Newcastle.
Moreover, where is the creativity, where is the dynamism? A side that recorded almost 60 per cent of possession against the Eagles could only muster seven shots and three on target.
I still see fight in the manager; how about some in the players? At the moment, it looks like several have already given up and have one eye on the summer transfer window.
If they are to wish away their Newcastle careers, how about showing some of the determination they displayed to help the club win its first trophy in 55 years in the final six games of the season?
Although something is not right at Newcastle, I remain hopeful that the side can secure some form of European football for next season.