7th Heaven For Jaissle, Newcastle United & Toon Fans

After a fraught week when nerves were frayed and questions were being asked about our manager, formations and players we got the one thing we needed this afternoon at Selhurst Park - a win and three points.

Throw in that I got my 2-0 score prediction right and my fiver returned £65 from my 12/1 bet + there were another four T shirts sales, and it's a happy day all round!

Typical First Half, Untypical Second

Talk about a game of two halves...

Newcastle were awful in the first half as the typical - in some games - scenario of a load of possession leading to a zero number of shots on target yet again played out.

The blog comments in the first half and at half time could have been cut and pasted from the Leeds, Coventry and Villa games and after 45 minutes Jaissle was staring at another load of negativity and doubt being blasted across the airwaves and around social media.

Well, whether he blasted the players at half time or roused them with a stirring cry of "you are playing a team there for the taking"... it worked.

Newcastle went at Palace from the second half KO and a within two minutes a superb cross from Murphy saw Osula in ecactly the right position to expertly guide the ball into the back of the net and send the away Geordie supporters behind the goal into raptures.

Minutes later it looked like 2-0 as hard pressing Toon players won a a succession of second balls and Willock was sent clear to angle a brilliant shot across the keeper.

VAR correctly called it just offside but not long after another good move and a decisve pass left Barnes to strike a perfectly placed goal to put Newcastle 2-0 up.

In just 13 minutes Newcastle had created more chances and had more shots on goal than in three of the last four games - the only worry now was - could we see the game out.

The fact that we did, despite some pressure and chances created by Palace, was down to some excellent goalkeeping by Hornicek and resolute defending not only by the back four but also by the tireless Jacob Murphy, who, apart from his superb cross for the first goal, did his best work in his own half.

Playing Schar and Burn raised some eyebrows and more doubts about Jaissle's team selection, but he got that decision bang on right, from the physical Mateta being handled well and the maturity and experience of the two old heads standing firm when Palace launched attacks.

Dedic ran himself into the ground, Hall was as good as always, and after a quiet first half Jo got right amongst in the second.

Not A Great Performance...

But A Great Three Points.

The faces of the two mangers at the whistle couldn't have been more different.

Jaissle was jubilant and Sage looked like a man about to be executed.

The win took Newcastle into 7th in the PL just two points off 5th place, and the loss downed Crystal Palace into one place and one point above a relegation spot.

But, let's enjoy the moment, but not kid ourselves.

We played a poor team and won, and although we kept a clean sheet and scored two good goals, it was hardly a performance that smacked of a team 7th in the PL.

The best thing from this afternoon was three points and a shot of much needed happy juice after the sour taste of the last three defeats in four games.

One other positive I took from the game was the reaction of the players to Jaissle at the final whistle when there were hugs all round as they applauded our fans in the away end.

The players are clearly right behind the Boss and that is exactly what was, and is, needed when the going gets tough and the Gaffer is under the spotlight.

So, let's enjoy the win, have a few beers, sleep easier tonight and if you are anything like me...

You won't hide from looking at the match reports and the table tomorrow morning.

It will make a canny read.

Celebrate the win with a TOONSTUFF SHIRT from just £16.99

Great for you and/or as a Xmas Present!

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