NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Hayden (Merino 56), Shelvey, Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 66), Atsu, Joselu (Mitrovic 78)
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Darlow, Gámez
CELEBRITY fans Sting and Jimmy Nail paid a visit here – and that was it for star quality until substitute Mikel Merino grabbed his first Newcastle goal.
Mikel Merino claimed his first goal in a Newcastle shirt in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace
The Spanish Under-21 midfielder recently converted his loan into a permanent £7million move from Borussia Dortmund.
And after quickly winning over the fans with a string of impressive displays, he cemented his place in their affections with a headed winner four minutes from time.
England boss and former Palace defender Gareth Southgate was also looking on as his old club gave Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle an often-uncomfortable afternoon in a feisty encounter.
The ‘for sale’ sign is up again at St James’ Park and the prospect of a takeover is the talk of the Toon.
Amanda Staveley, who runs investment firm PCP Capital Partners, is fronting a potential £300million bid for Newcastle as owner Mike Ashley aims to sell up by Christmas.
And the Geordies’ stock is rising once more after they moved back up the table to sixth.
Andros Townsend, making his first return to Tyneside since joining Palace in the summer of 2016 after Newcastle were relegated, scored the only goal in the previous meeting between the sides when the Magpies beat the Eagles here.
England manager Gareth Southgate watched the encounter at St James' Park
Benitez, who reckons Townsend may have made a mistake leaving, retains an interest in the one-time England winger.
The home fans were certainly not in a forgiving mood as they booed Townsend’s first touch.
But they were anxious when centre-back Florian Lejeune was booked for bringing Townsend down and presenting him with the chance to whip in wicked a free-kick that Joselu managed to head clear.
Wilfried Zaha then delivered a dangerous low ball in from the left that was dealt with by keeper Rob Elliot.
And Palace continued to look the more threatening when Jeffrey Schlupp pulled an effort wide soon afterwards.
The boo-boys had also been quick to target ex-Toon midfielder Yohan Cabaye – and they ramped up the hostility when the Frenchman was guilty of a reckless lunge on DeAndre Yedlin.
It left the Newcastle right-back writhing and triggered some jostling between opposition players, with Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles being booked for a shove.
But with the home fans baying for a red card, referee Stuart Attwell reached for a yellow, much to the fury of the locals.
Christian Atsu lifted the home contingent with a blistering, left-wing burst and a fiercely-struck finish which rippled the side-netting.
But Zaha should have broken the deadlock six minutes before the break when he headed wide from Townsend’s right-wing cross.
As a spectacle, this game was scarcely any better after the interval – it was the 72nd minute before the crowd had reason to get excited when substitute Mo Diame forced a save from keeper Julian Speroni.
That was swiftly followed by a Jonjo Shelvey piledriver which Speroni seemed to know little about as the ball cannoned off him.
But Palace saw a great chance go begging ten minutes from the end when substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek dragged the ball across goal from the right and former Newcastle loanee Patrick van Aanholt failed to meet it on the slide.
And the visitors were punished as Matt Ritchie delivered a left-wing corner and Merino looped home his header over Speroni.