Sheff U (h) Forwarding/resale/resale seats now
Burnley (a) SOLD OUT
B & HA (h) Forwarding/resale/resale seats now
Man United (a) ST sale now, 23 points
Brentford (a) ST sale now, 125 points

2023/24:
Too Eze for Eagles

Crystal Palace  2  Newcastle  0

Match action is online here

Newcastle returned to Premier League action on Wednesday at Selhurst Park, but it was Palace whose identity was intensity; showing superior momentum and purpose on the back of successive victories. 

Unchanged from the side that put four past Spurs without reply, the Magpies seldom looked comfortable and were repeatedly harried into mistakes when in possession, leaving home custodian Dean Henderson with barely a save to make in the entire game.

The Eagles under Oliver Glasner proved to be a radically different outfit from the one led by Roy Hodgson that shipped four goals on Tyneside in October - confident, aggressive and full of running. Given that they'd played on Saturday while we were enjoying an 11 day break, something was awry here tonight. 

What proved to be United's best scoring opportunity came in the opening minutes when Harvey Barnes had a clear route to goal as he raced into the area - but made a failed attempt at finding Anthony Gordon when a shot looked far more sensible.

From that point on the home side dominated central midfield and the elusive Eberechi Eze - strongly linked with a move to Tyneside when at QPR - continually found space around the visitors box. 

Despite that though, Palace didn't seriously threaten to end a goal drought against Newcastle that was over eight hours at the first whistle: Martin Dubravka beaten only by Jean-Phillippe Mateta's rocket late in the half that shook the crossbar but came from an offside position.

United weren't as hapless as they looked at half time in their last London visit at Craven Cottage, but another scoreless first 45 minutes left room for improvement.

Sadly it was Palace who found the breakthrough on 55 minutes, Mateta exchanging passes with Jordan Ayew before firing past Dubravka to register a goal for the fifth successive home game.

The origins of that opener were in slack marking and another self-inflicted wound saw Mateta claim his and Palace's second of the night on 88 minutes, taking a pass from Will Hughes and firing through Dubravka's legs. 

Sean Longstaff claimed to have been fouled in the build-up to that as he under-hit an attempted pass, but referee Tom Bramall was having none of it.

Bramall had earlier booked Longstaff in the aftermath of a 77th minute penalty appeal when the Newcastle midfielder was through on goal but went down under contact from Hughes seeking a penalty rather than getting his shot off.

As Palace hurriedly restarted play, the referee initially appeared unwilling to consult VAR and only halted the game when strenuous Newcastle protests followed - Longstaff booked for that rather than simulation.

The introduction of fit-again Callum Wilson from the bench in the 65th minute had failed to increase his side's potency in front of goal.

On a night when Palace mathematically secured their top-flight status this season, defeat for Newcastle raised fresh doubts over their European aspirations.

Manchester United meanwhile twice came from behind at home to defeat Sheffield United 4-2, taking them three points clear of Eddie Howe's side, who dropped one place into seventh.

And although the Blades are next up at Gallowgate on Saturday, the Red Devils host fellow strugglers Burnley. Victory for the Magpies will see Sheffield United relegated back to the Championship.

Team: Dubravka, J.Murphy (Wilson 65), Krafth, Schar, Burn, Longstaff (White 90), Anderson (Ritchie 90), Guimaraes, Gordon, Isak, Barnes (Hall 65).
Subs n/u: Karius, Dummett, Livramento, A.Murphy, Parkinson.

Booked: Gordon, Longstaff, Anderson.

The lack of a booking for Bruno Guimaraes removes the final possibility of a suspension, which would have followed had he been yellow-carded in all of our remaining games including tonight.

CPFC: Henderson, Clyne, Anderson, Richards, Munoz (Ward 90+4), Wharton (Riedewald 83), Hughes, Mitchell, Ayew (Olise 73), Eze (Schlupp 83), Mateta.
Subs n/u: Matthews, Ahamada, Edouard, Ozoh, Tomkins.

Booked: Richards, Ayew, Wharton.

Goals: Mateta 55, 88.

Crowd: 25,002 including 2,700 away fans (tbc).

Thanks to everyone who entered our match score prediction competition to win Toon-inspired golf club head covers from Crun Sports.

At first glance, nobody correctly guessed the result meaning that all entrants will enter the prize draw. That'll take place on Thursday following a further check of all entries received.  

After the game Eddie Howe said:

"It's very disappointing, from the high of Spurs to the low of tonight. We started well for two minutes.

"We were disappointing in most aspects of our play and we have to take responsibility for that. The match unravelled into an uncomfortable feeling.

"We gave the ball away too much, we didn't attack well and if baffled me that we were reluctant to shoot. None of our game was in a good place.

"Disappointed especially with the first 60 minutes. We were nowhere near where we wanted to be. 

"Disappointed with our technical performance today, we are usually better than that.

"It was a difficult game for us. We were below our best levels. Crystal Palace played well.

"It was a high-pressing game, we were both trying to high press each other but they more effective with their game than we were.

"We're disappointed. We came alive a bit in the second half and had moments and opportunities but we weren't good enough.

On a downturn in performance after a break: 

"That's always a fear. We worked to try and make sure that wasn't a factor in the game - Crystal Palace were better than us today. We can't make excuses, we're going to blame ourselves and try to come back better."

On Sean Longstaff's penalty appeal: 

"It's a 50-50 call. If the referee gives it, he doesn't overturn the decision with VAR. He obviously didn't think it was a penalty at the time and we have to respect that."

On Callum Wilson's return after a 10 game absence: 

"Callum's return is more than welcome and he gave us a different dimension when he came on today."

On the prospects of European qualification:

"It's still on. We're still in the mix but we can't play like we did today if we're going to maintain our push to be in the European places. There's certainly a lot to reflect on.

"There is a big opportunity for us, we can't let (our season) peter out and we've got a big chance to quickly bounce back."

Referee: Tom Bramall - a third Newcastle game of the season for the Manchester-based whistler and his first away from SJP, following the 2-0 win over Burnley and 4-4 draw with Luton Town.

Stats:

Elliot Anderson made his 50th senior competitive appearance for United in all competitions (13 starts). 

Since Christian Benteke beat Karl Darlow here in October 2021, Palace had failed to net against United in all five home and away league and cup meetings. Mateta's goal tonight ended that sequence after 539 minutes.

Magpies v Eagles @ Selhurst - all time:

2023/24 lost 0-2
2022/23 drew 0-0
2021/22 drew 1-1 Wilson
2020/21 won 2-0 Wilson, Joelinton
2019/20 lost 0-1
2018/19 drew 0-0
2017/18 drew 1-1 Diame
2015/16 lost 1-5 Cisse
2014/15 drew 1-1 Cisse
2014/15 won 3-2 (aet) Riviere 2, Dummett (LC)
2013/14 won 3-0 Cabaye, og(Gabbidon), Ben Arfa
2009/10 won 2-0 Nolan, Ryan Taylor
2004/05 won 2-0 Kluivert, Bellamy
1997/98 won 2-1 Tomasson, Ketsbaia
1994/95 won 1-0 Beardsley
1983/84 lost 1-3 Beardsley
1982/83 won 2-0 Waddle, Varadi
1981/82 won 2-1 Waddle, Mills
1978/79 lost 0-1
1972/73 drew 0-0 (AI)
1972/73 lost 1-2 Tudor
1971/72 lost 0-2
1970/71 lost 0-1
1969/70 won 3-0 Davies, Dyson, Robson
1964/65 drew 1-1 Cummings

Latest PL results/fixture:

Sat 20.04.2024:
Luton Town 1-5 Brentford
Sheffield United 1-4 Burnley
Wolves 0-2 Arsenal

Sun 21.04.2024:
Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa 3-1 Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 5-2 West Ham
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool

Tue 23.04.2024:
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea

Wed 24.04.2024:
Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 2-0 Newcastle
Everton 2-0 Liverpool
Manchester United 4-2 Sheffield United

Thu 25.04.2024:
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City (8pm) Sky

2024/25:
Season tickets etc.

For those who haven't already done so as part of the long-term deals, season ticket renewals can now be made online here until 5pm on Monday May 20th.

Meanwhile, home cup ticket schemes for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup are also open now, with a closing date of 5pm on Friday June 21st. Remember that separate sign-ups are required for both.

Depending on our finishing place in the PL, a further home cup ticket scheme for European competition may become available.

Cup ticket prices are unchanged from 2023/24:

Carabao Cup: £20 & £25 adults / £10 & £15 others

FA Cup: £30 & £35 adults / £15 & £20 others

This season's ticket price increase was repeated for next season, raising adult prices by 5% and freezing junior prices. Full announcement online here

PS: The Magpie Mover matchday public transport ticket will again be available to 2024/25 season ticket holders at an unchanged price of £25. NB: sales of this don't look to have commenced yet. 

1 v 1:
Wor Gordon in the Bay 

The next guest on Sky's Overlap show is Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, interviewed by Gary Neville on and around the promenade at Whitley Bay.

There's plenty to take from a revealing 45 minutes, not least his preference to play as a left winger.

Watch it for free online here

Theatre dates:
Booking for Bella

Following a successful tour of the region two years ago, Wor Bella returns to the stage in Newcastle this weekend.

Playwright Ed Waugh's work about the prolific female footballer Bella Reay is at the Theatre Royal on Saturday (2.30pm and 7.30pm) and Sunday (2.30pm)

More details/bookings online here

Ed's play centres on Bella's starring role for Blyth Spartans Ladies in the 1918 Munitionettes Cup final, played before an aggregate crowd of 22,000 fans at Gallowgate and Ayresome Park. 

Update:
More train strikes 

Further industrial action has been announced next month by the ASLEF union - although no Newcastle games are directly affected this time round.

A rolling series of one day strikes will see drivers walk out for 24 hours as follows. A separate overtime ban will run from Mon 06.05.2024 until Sat 11.05.2024:

Tue 07.05.2024: c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway.

Wed 08.05.2024: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thu 09.05.2024: LNER, Northern, TransPennine.

2024/25:
Europe: latest 

Assuming that the Premier League misses out on an additional fifth Champions League place available due to restructuring of the competition next season, qualification for Europe in 2024/25 looks like this, as much as we're able to discern:

There are seven guaranteed European spots; four in the Champions League, two in the Europa League and one in the Conference League. 

Those were originally allocated as follows:

PL 1st-4th in Champions League
PL 5th in Europa League
FA Cup winners in Europa League
Carabao Cup winners in Conference League

Liverpool currently have the Conference League place as Carabao Cup winners, but will take a Champions League place if they finish in the Premier League top four, which looks almost guaranteed.

That frees up the Conference League place to the team finishing sixth in the Premier League.

The FA Cup winners take a Europa League place - unless they have earned a Champions League place by virtue of a top four Premier League finish.

If Manchester City win the FA Cup and finish in the top four of the Premier League, they will enter the Champions League. 

The sixth place finishers would go into the Europa League spot reserved for Manchester City, with the Conference League spot occupied by the team finishing seventh. 

If Manchester United win the FA Cup, they'll take a Europa League place unless they finish in the top four and collect a Champions League slot. 

Should they finish in the Conference League position, they would take the Europa League spot resulting from a Wembley success instead.

If Manchester United finished eighth and therefore only qualified for Europe by winning the FA Cup, the team in seventh spot wouldn't gain entry to any European competition. 

Aston Villa have qualified for the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League (known as the UEFA Conference League next season). 

If they won that competition, they would occupy an additional spot in the Europa League reserved for the Conference winners only - regardless of nationality. 

Should Villa snag a Champions League or Europa League spot via their Premier League finishing spot though, the Europa League place reserved for them as Conference League winners would not be reallocated to another Premier League team. 

Premier League Euro qualification guide

Sky Sport Euro qualification guide

Update:
London calling....

It's coming up to 60 years since the Newcastle United London Supporters Club was established, members following the lads home and away since since 1964.

Preparations to mark the anniversary with an event later this year are underway; any founder members and their families who aren't currently in contact with the club are now invited to get in touch.

To do so, please email [email protected] 

PS: We'll publicise the NUSCL event in due course, with all current and former members welcome to attend.

Loan lads:
The borrowers 

Ryan Fraser (Southampton): 
The Saints were on the wrong end of a 0-5 defeat at Leicester City in the Championship on Tuesday. Fraser appeared as an 83rd minute replacement with the scoring complete.

Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord):
Go Ahead Eagles (a) Eredivisie, Thursday.

Isaac Hayden (QPR):
Leeds United (h) Championship, Friday.

Rodrigo Vilca (Vozdovac):
Spartak Sobotica (h) Serbian Super Liga, Friday.

Jeff Hendrick (Sheffield Wednesday):
West Bromwich Albion (h) Championship, Saturday.

Jamal Lewis (Watford):
mackems (h) Championship, Saturday.

Harrison Ashby (Swansea City):
Norwich City (a) Championship, Saturday.

Kelland Watts (Wigan Athletic): 
Bristol Rovers (h) League One, Saturday.

Matty Bondswell (Newport County):
Bradford City (a) League Two, Saturday.

Michael Ndiweni (Annan Athletic):
Falkirk (h) Scottish League One, Saturday.

Garang Kuol (Volendam):
Sparta Rotterdam (a) Eredivisie, Sunday.

2023/24:
Sheffield United (h)

Newcastle's penultimate PL home game of the season sees them host the Blades this coming Saturday.

It's an old-fashioned, non-televised 3pm kick-off, with the visitors selling their entire 3,204 allocation.

Chris Wilder's side need to avoid defeat to keep their relegation fight going a little longer, although a draw would leave them needing a mathematic miracle, or Nottingham Forest having their points deduction increased after appeal.

Team: To follow 

SUFC: Max Lowe, Chris Basham, John Egan, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Daniel Jebbison, Tom Davies and George Baldock remain unavailable.

Ahead of their visit to Tyneside, Wilder's side lost 2-4 at Old Trafford in the PL on Wednesday night.

Referee: Tony Harrington - swift return to SJP for the Teesside-based official, who took charge of the recent 1-1 home draw with Everton.

VAR: Andy Madley

UK TV: none

WonderBar in The Gate opens at 10am, with DJ Mad Mick on stage from 11.30am for his pre-match show. 

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Overseas TV: to follow

UK Radio: live on talkSPORT 2

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Hospital Radio: Radio Tyneside commentary is accessible free of charge in local hospitals via Hospedia.

Buses: The Go North East X50 football service from the Metro Centre will be in operation. Details here

Roads: The Tyne Bridge refurbishment programme is underway and expected to take four years to complete. 

One lane in each direction will remain closed at all times until further notice, leading to inevitable congestion and delays. More details

Temporary road closures around the SJP will be in place from an hour before kick-off until 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Metro: No scheduled closures or alterations

Foodbank: The usual stall and bucket shakers will be on Strawberry Place. NUFC Jamie Reuben will once again double all cash donations made on matchday.

Upcoming PL fixtures: 

Sat 27.04.2024:
West Ham v Liverpool (12.30pm) TNT
Fulham v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Manchester United v Burnley (3pm)
Newcastle v Sheffield United (3pm)
Wolves v Luton Town (3pm)
Everton v Brentford (5.30pm) Sky
Aston Villa v Chelsea (8pm) TNT

Sun 28.04.2024:
Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion (2pm)
Spurs v Arsenal (2pm) Sky
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (4.30pm) Sky

Stats: 

Blades in Toon - last 10:

2020/21 won 1-0 Willock
2019/20 won 3-0 Saint-Maximin, Ritchie, Joelinton
2009/10 won 2-1 Lovenkrands, Nolan
2006/07 lost 0-1
1999/00 won 4-1 Shearer, Dabizas, Ferguson, Gallacher (FAC)
1993/94 won 4-0 Beardsley 2, OG, Cole
1989/90 won 2-0 Gallacher, Quinn
1988/89 won 2-0 Hendrie, Mirandinha (LC)
1985/86 drew 1-1 Cunningham (FR)
1978/79 lost 1-3 Shoulder

Loan lad:
Cards & a present 
for Toon loan lad

Sunday saw Feyenoord defeat NEC Nijmegen 1-0 to win the Dutch Cup Final, giving on-loan Magpie Yankuba Minteh the first trophy of his senior career.

However, the Gambian-born 19 year-old wasn't on the field in De Kuip at full time - following his 72nd minute dismissal after two bookings inside three minutes.

Feyenoord were 1-0 up at the time and managed to hold on to their advantage to lift the trophy - a rather happier Minteh collecting his winner's medal.

Update:
Asian Cup bid ends 

With United's Garang Kuol in the squad, Sunday saw Australia bow out of the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar after failing to win any of their three group stage ties.

Following a 0-0 draw against Jordan and a 0-1 defeat by Indonesia, the Olyroos needed victory over hosts Qatar in Doha on Sunday to progress.

Following 21 minute and 15 minute substitute outings, Kuol was again named on the bench. Introduced on 69 minutes with brother Alou, he was unable to inspire Australia to a goal and the game finished 0-0.

The top three finishers in the sixteen team competition earn a place in the Olympic Football tournament in Paris this summer. The side that finishes fourth enters a qualification playoff.

U18s:
Nine man Mags 
in last-gasp loss

Wolves U18s  1  Newcastle U18s 0

Following their dramatic 4-3 home win over Liverpool on Monday night, United's U18 side were defeated in second half added time on Saturday.

After a delayed start at the Wolves training ground, neither side could conjure up a first half goal - but both went in at the interval a man down.

The hosts lost Josh Gidaree to a straight red card on 17 minutes for illegally halting Newcastle's Matty Taylor as the last man back. Fouls by visiting midfielder Mattheos Ferreira on 20 and 29 minutes were then deemed as bookable offences by referee Brandon Scaife.

Still scoreless going into second half added time, United defender Harry Powell blocked a goalbound shot with his hand and became the second Magpie be dismissed.

That left Dani Angel with the task of taking the resultant penalty and the Spanish youth international forward beat Adam Harrison to secure all three points for Wolves.

Team: A.Harrison, Bloomer (Epia 69), Durrant, Johnson, Palmer, Wooster (Mills 89), Ferreira, Donaldson, O'Donovan, Taylor (Alabi 75), H.Powell. 
Subs n/u: Jones, Old.

Booked: Ferriera, Epia

Dismissed: Ferreira, H.Powell

Newcastle gave an U18 debut to Michael Mills at the age of 15 years and three months. The winger was signed from Port Vale last summer. Also appearing for the first time at this level was fellow substitute Aaron Epia - a defender who was with Everton. 

Update: 
Sports Direct fail again

A week after The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that a Sports Direct claim against Newcastle United was insufficient to merit the granting of an injunction, Friday saw an appeal of that decision rejected by them:

"the Tribunal does not consider that the appeal has any real prospect of success."

Earlier: The case will proceed to trial unless an alternative solution can be reached, with no delay to the June home kit launch permissible, regardless of whether said trial has taken place by then.

Sports Direct are challenging the club's plans to sell next season's shirts themselves and via retailer JD Sports - the latter gaining an exclusive licence. 

Earlier: details of next season's Adidas kit releases came out during the tribunal, including a home kit launch on June 7th, the away kit in July and a third kit in August.

Figures disclosed during the tribunal also suggest that the Adidas production run is around 375,000 shirts.

Latest:
Staveley statement 

Update from Amanda Staveley via social media:

"Just arrived back from Saudi and noticed a lot of messages from fans concerned that I had stepped down from my role as a Director of Newcastle United.

"I have not - the changes made last week were purely administrative, to non-trading subsidiaries. After the takeover, Jamie and I stepped in as directors of all companies until we could build an executive team.

"We remain on the ‘top-co’ and the Board. I’d like to thank everyone for their incredible support over the last few years, and particularly for people taking the time to share their thoughts.

"We have the best fans in the world - and I am privileged and proud to be a part of your community."

Earlier: Updates from Companies House involving subsidiary companies related to Newcastle United caused a stir on Wednesday, specifically the resignation of Staveley from a number of directorships.

These were explained as administrative rather than strategic, with her position as a director of Newcastle United Football Company Limited unchanged - that company established back in 1890. 

Club CEO Darren Eales is now also a director of that company, which is in keeping with previous holders of that post including David Stonehouse etc.

PS: Staveley is set to be back in the news this week, as the deadline for repayment of a £3m debt fell on Monday. Should bankruptcy proceedings then follow, that could affect her NUFC future. 

U21s:
Friday night failure

Newcastle U21s  0  Leeds United U21s  2

Match report

2024/25:
No Atlantic crossing

We understand Newcastle have abandoned attempts to arrange a pre-season tour of the USA, after no suitable financial package could be agreed upon.

Negotiations over alternative destinations are now in progress, with claims of various long haul and European venues appearing in recent days.  

United played three matches in the USA in 2023 as part of the "Premier League Summer Series", facing Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea. 

There's no equivalent PL event this year, but Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs have all arranged their own stateside kickabouts.

PS: The format of the 2023 SELA Cup event is expected to be repeated this year, with the Magpies and three as-yet unidentified sides each playing two games at Gallowgate over the weekend of August 10th/11th.

2024/25:
FAC update

Changes to the FA Cup competition from next season for a minimum of six seasons were announced by the FA on Thursday as follows:

Scrapping of all replays from FAC1 onwards - for NUFC that puts an end to FAC3R and FAC4R; FAC5R had previously been scrapped. 

No midweek FAC round scheduling, ending the recent trend of playing the Fifth Round in midweek.

FAC4 played over six days from Friday to Wednesday.

No PL games scheduled on FAC4, FAC5 and FAC QF weekends but FACF to be played on the Saturday of the penultimate weekend of the PL season*. No PL games to be played on that Saturday or the Friday night.

* by our calculations that's May 17th 2025.

PS: The PL have also announced that the mid-season break that has existed in different formats over recent seasons won't be continued.

Fundraiser:
Saddling up for charity  

Father and son duo Steve and Paul McDougal are currently engaged on a charity cycle trek to Istanbul - proudly clad in their black and white shirts.    

The Geordie pair have now reached Germany on their Toon2Turkey Bike Ride, which is attempting to raise funds for men's health charity, Movember.

Keep track of their progress online here and if you're able to, please donate to the charity online here. 

Movember are working to address some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.

2023/24:
Good vibrations!

Newcastle  4  Spurs  0

Match report

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