Newcastle United Feel Hard Done By After 2-1 Loss To Crystal Palace, Howe Notes

Newcastle United’s 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace further damaged hopes of reaching European football, after another collapse from a winning position. William Osula’s close-range finish had put Newcastle ahead before half-time at Selhurst Park, but substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta struck twice, including a late penalty, to complete Palace’s comeback and leave Eddie Howe describing the result as harsh.

Newcastle now sit 14th in the Premier League, below Crystal Palace on goal difference, underlining the setback. The defeat follows a derby loss to Sunderland, where Newcastle also surrendered a lead, adding pressure during a difficult run. Once again, the team struggled to manage the game after scoring first, despite limiting Palace for long periods.

Howe was critical of Newcastle’s failure to see the match out, stressing that the performance did not deserve defeat. Howe told Sky Sports: "The defeat is harsh on us because we controlled the majority of the first half and phases of the second. The goal we conceded at the end is really, really poor from our perspective. It's becoming difficult for us, with how things are going for us, especially when protecting a lead. "

Howe highlighted the influence of Palace’s bench and the difficulty of handling Mateta after the interval. Howe said: "I thought we were in total control with 60 minutes gone, but their substitutes made a difference. Jean-Philippe Mateta in particular proved a difficult customer for us to deal with. The defeat is harsh on us because we control. "

Eddie Howe on this afternoon's game at Selhurst Park pic.twitter.com/9QsbwGG8HTNewcastle United (@NUFC) April 12, 2026

Osula broke the deadlock late in the first half, converting Newcastle’s first effort on target from close range. Palace responded after the break when Tyrick Mitchell advanced on the left and crossed low for Mateta, who finished clinically. The forward then won the match from the spot after Sven Botman pulled back Jefferson Lerma inside the area, allowing Mateta to send the penalty past the goalkeeper.

Underlying numbers reflected Palace’s threat, despite Newcastle’s early advantage. Newcastle managed seven attempts, with three on target, generating 1.13 expected goals. Palace produced 2.34 expected goals and applied greater pressure as the match progressed. Newcastle have now dropped 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, five more than any other side, underlining recurring issues with game management.

Crystal Palace’s win also continued a positive spell at Selhurst Park. Oliver Glasner’s side have now earned two victories from their last three home league matches, matching their total wins from the previous 13 home fixtures in the competition, which returned six draws and five defeats. The result also marked the first time since October 2022 that Palace overturned a half-time home deficit in a Premier League game.

Glasner rotated several key players after the UEFA Europa Conference League tie against Fiorentina on Thursday, yet still watched Palace finish stronger. Glasner said: "To get the turnaround and get the win is a lot of credit to the players. We had a great impact from the bench again, which is good. It's not easy when you play every three days. Your energy levels are sometimes a bit low. It helped us give some players some rest. Others also did really well and worked hard. It is a boost for the players and boost for Selhurst Park. It's not always easy to create momentum. And then you have to keep it and not throw it away. We are on track. "

The match left Newcastle searching for solutions before the run-in, with European qualification slipping further away, while Palace gained confidence from another strong home display. For Glasner, effective rotation and impactful substitutions maintained momentum after European duty. For Howe, the focus remains on tightening defensive discipline when leading, as repeated turnarounds continue to shape Newcastle’s Premier League season.