Newcastle United Secure 2-0 Victory Over Crystal Palace at St. James’ Park

5 January 2026 Sports

Magpies Kick Off 2026 With Commanding Home Win

Newcastle United started the new year on a positive note, defeating Crystal Palace 2-0 at St. James’ Park on 4 January 2026. Bruno Guimarães stepped up again for Newcastle United as Eddie Howe’s side kickstarted 2026 with a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace. The victory was crucial for the Magpies as they continue their push for European qualification, whilst Crystal Palace’s struggles away from home continued.

Match Summary and Key Moments

The match remained goalless throughout a competitive first half, with both sides creating opportunities. The Magpies saw goals for Anthony Gordon and Joelinton ruled out for offside in the first half but finally found their breakthrough after the restart, with Guimarães well-placed to head home his seventh goal of the season. Bruno Guimaraes put the Magpies ahead in the 71st and Malick Thiaw doubled the advantage seven minutes later.

Palace lose for the fourth-straight Premier League game but will take some positives from the bright debut of record signing Brennan Johnson. Despite the defeat, Crystal Palace showed moments of promise, particularly through their new signing who was thrust into action with minimal preparation.

Table Implications and Future Outlook

The victory lifted Newcastle into ninth place, whilst the Eagles dropped to 14th place with 27 points. Eddie Howe could not have asked for a better start to the New Year, with Newcastle United now unbeaten in their last seven home Premier League matches. In contrast, Palace are winless in their last seven matches across all competitions – their longest such run since a stretch of eight games between November and December 2023.

The result highlights Newcastle’s fortress-like form at St. James’ Park and suggests they could be genuine contenders for European football. For Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, the recurring defensive issues from set-pieces remain a pressing concern that requires immediate attention as the season progresses.