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Newcastle United: 5 things we learned from the 1-1 draw vs. Crystal Palace

By Durim Halimi

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United and James McArthur of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on February 4, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United and James McArthur of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on February 4, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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The lively match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace ended in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

A strong first half performance and a weak second half outing led to two points dropped for Newcastle United. The Magpies were full of energy on the offensive end of the pitch in the first half, with every midfielder getting involved in the action. However, Crystal Palace enjoyed the same offensive efficiency due to Newcastle’s disorganization at the back.

Mohamed Diame’s goal in the first half gave Newcastle United a crucial lead on the road, but for the second consecutive match the Magpies could not maintain their lead. Here are five things we learned from the draw against Crystal Palace yesterday.

Diame-Shelvey Duo

The duo of Mohamed Diame and Jonjo Shelvey in the center of midfield proved to be a wise lineup decision for Rafa Benitez. Shelvey was much more involved in the passing game and did well to cover for Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark when the defenders were late getting back into position.

Diame was aggressive from the opening whistle as he chased down the ball, used his strength to push off defenders until a team-mate could make a run and he scored an easy goal in a crowded area. Diame seems to have solidified his starting role in midfield as a result of his good form. The only uncertainty is whether Shelvey will continue playing alongside him, or if it will be Mikel Merino or Isaac Hayden.

Kenedy

Kenedy was impressive in his debut against Burnley and his performance against Crystal Palace will surely make him a fan favorite on Tyneside. Kenedy showcased his ability to accelerate down the wing and quickly cut inside towards the goal to seek out team-mates in the box.

It is evident that Kenedy has to work on his conditioning due to not playing much for Chelsea, but the Brazilian winger causes many problems for opposing defenders when he is on the pitch. While Kenedy does not lack confidence, he does seem to shy away from shooting at times as he constantly seeks to pass when he is in the penalty area. Going forward, Kenedy should be a little more selfish when he has a good look at the goal.

Poor Defending

Crystal Palace had 21 shot attempts against Newcastle United and forced Karl Darlow to make seven big saves over the course of the match. Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark were caught out of position multiple times which created dangerous passing lanes for the Eagles.

Paul Dummett was often running behind the speedy wingers and forwards of Crystal Palace while DeAndre Yedlin spent too much time trying to emulate Real Madrid’s Marcelo up the field. The Magpies are lucky to have only conceded one goal in this match because it was the worst defensive performance of the season. With Manchester United up next on the schedule, Rafa Benitez must find a way to correct the mistakes from yesterday’s match.

Scoring Woes

The struggle for goals continues. In their last five Premier League matches, Newcastle United have only scored five goals. The Magpies did have some good chances on Sunday against Crystal Palace, but those opportunities did not translate to goals.

The arrival of Islam Slimani from Leicester City looks like a good addition on paper, but the Algerian striker will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders as the expectations are high. Unfortunately for Slimani and Newcastle United, the next match is against the superior Manchester United, but it will be interesting to see what Slimani can do with the ball at his feet.

Relegation Bound?

Newcastle United’s recent results are misleading in some ways. Yes, the Magpies have only lost once in their last five matches, but with the relegation battle being so competitive the three 1-1 draws against Swansea City, Burnley and Crystal Palace really mean that the Magpies dropped six crucial points.

Next: Joselu's run as a starting striker must end

Newcastle United are now 16th in the table with 25 points after 26 matches. A loss to Manchester United next weekend would surely place the Magpies among the bottom three. The Magpies must put this match behind them and turn all of their attention to the Red Devils.