8 mins McCarthy shot deflected in by Brad Cross. 0-1

Half time: Eagles 1 Magpies 0

61 mins Street header. 0-2

80 mins Spence shot. 0-3

Full time: Eagles 3 Magpies 0

Midfielder Niall Brookwell was suspended following his red card in the last U23 game against Stoke City.
 

Newcastle's second string rounded off their 2020 fixture programme in South London on Monday with a deserved loss that only the intervention of visiting goalkeeper Will Brown kept within manageable proportions.

With a trio of first team players in their starting line-up and boss Roy Hodgson watching from the touchline, Palace dominated the opening stages.

Brown did well to keep out a third minute shot from Sion Spence but was beaten five minutes later, when James McCarthy's effort deflected in off defender Bradley Cross.

Clad in their yellow change kit, United ended the half more competitively, but without threatening to level. A slightly brighter showing after the resumption culminated in top scorer Stan Flaherty bringing a save out of Oliver Webber with a 58th minute free kick.

However that mini-revival was soon ended, Sion Spence crossing from the Palace right just after the hour for Rob Street's routine header to make it 0-2.

The Eagles then came close to a third goal on 63 minutes when a scramble in the box ended with a defender's block on the goal line.

They did extend their lead with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, a flowing move ending with Alfie Matthews pulling the back ball from the right hand byline for Spence to finish from close range.

Palace looked in the mood for further goals but finished at three, meaning Chris Hogg's side have conceded 16 times in their last six league outings.

They'll go into 2021 joint bottom of the table on points, ahead of Reading on goal difference - with the Royals having a game in hand.

Such is the bunching of the table though that both this game began with Newcastle and Palace level on points, victory for the Eagles propelling them into fourth spot.