Crystal Palace secured their place in the Premier League for another season with a well-deserved victory over Newcastle at Selhurst Park.
Jean-Philippe Mateta played a crucial role in the win, scoring twice to seal the deal for his team. In the 55th minute, he combined with Jordan Ayew to find the back of the net, showcasing their excellent teamwork.
Mateta then added another goal in the 88th minute, capitalizing on a pass from Will Hughes. Despite Newcastle’s efforts, including a missed opportunity by Alexander Isak, Palace’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson made a crucial save to deny them a goal.
There was also controversy surrounding a potential penalty for Newcastle, but after a VAR review, no decision was given.
With this victory, Crystal Palace now has three consecutive wins and can shift their focus towards climbing up the league table rather than worrying about relegation.
Since Oliver Glasner took over at Crystal Palace, it could be argued that no player has shown more improvement than Mateta, who has scored eight goals since the Austrian’s arrival in February.
The coach commended the striker’s hard work and the way his movements on the field open up space for players like Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. However, it is Mateta’s goal-scoring ability that has truly set him apart in recent matches.
With seven goals in his last seven games, Mateta has reached his highest tally of 11 league goals since joining Palace. Additionally, he has provided four assists in his 20 Premier League starts.
As the season nears its end, Mateta is expected to enter contract negotiations, and it is clear that Palace will be eager to retain him following his exceptional form.
Both teams entered the game aiming for their third consecutive victory, however, Eddie Howe’s team failed to show any signs of winning.
Newcastle managed only one shot on target, with Isak missing a good opportunity when he was played through on the Palace goal in the first half.
The team may argue that they deserved a penalty after Longstaff was brought down in the box by Hughes, but in general, they did not create sufficient chances to trouble the Eagles.
Their next match is against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United on Saturday, and they will be looking to return to the form that earned them 10 points from four games prior to this defeat, as they strive to secure European football for the next season.