Two second-half strikes by Jean-Philippe Mateta and another inspired performance by Eberechi Eze secured a third consecutive Premier League victory for Crystal Palace and dented Newcastle United’s European ambitions.
The win lifts Palace 14 points clear of the relegation zone and underlined the improvement wrought by Oliver Glasner since he replaced Roy Hodgson as manager in February. For Newcastle, this was a disappointing night and a chance missed in the race for sixth place.
Eze was, however, by some distance the game’s outstanding player and, in this form must surely be in Gareth Southgate’s thinking for the Euros this summer. When he left the field in the 83rd minute he received a rapturous ovation from the home fans, having been involved in the opening goal
