Newcastle United secured a vital three points at St James' Park on Sunday, defeating Crystal Palace 2-0 in a hard-fought Premier League encounter. The Magpies were inspired by a standout performance from Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who broke the deadlock before setting up the decisive second goal.
Guimaraes Breaks the Deadlock
The match, played on Sunday 04 January 2026, was a tense affair for large periods. Newcastle thought they had taken the lead twice in the first half, only for efforts from Anthony Gordon and Joelinton to be ruled out for offside following VAR checks. Crystal Palace, with £35m debutant Brennan Johnson involved, held firm and created chances of their own, but failed to seriously test Magpies' goalkeeper Nick Pope.
The hosts continued to press after the break. The breakthrough finally came in the 71st minute. Substitute Harvey Barnes delivered a cross which was helped back across goal by Lewis Miley, and Bruno Guimaraes was perfectly placed to power a header home from close range. It was the Brazilian's seventh goal of the season and a huge relief for the home supporters.
Thiaw Seals the Points
Palace keeper Dean Henderson did well to keep out a Barnes header shortly after, but the visitors' resistance was broken for good just moments later. From a Guimaraes corner, the ball fell to defender Malick Thiaw, who reacted quickest to stab the ball home from inside the six-yard box and seal the victory.
The second goal confirmed a 2-0 win for Eddie Howe's side, a result that also marked their first clean sheet in 13 matches. The three points provided the perfect start to a gruelling schedule of nine games in 28 days for Newcastle.
Key Moments and Missed Chances
The game had begun at a frantic pace. Newcastle almost scored within three minutes, but Yoane Wissa fired straight at Henderson after good work from Gordon. Palace grew into the game, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Will Hughes going close either side of half-time.
At the other end, Henderson was called into action several times, making fine saves from Fabian Schar and Lewis Hall. Newcastle's persistence eventually paid off through Guimaraes and Thiaw, though substitute Joe Willock did miss a late chance to add a third, firing wide of an open goal.
The victory moves Newcastle up the Premier League table and provides a significant boost ahead of their busy January period. For Crystal Palace, it was a performance with positive moments but a familiar outcome, as they left Tyneside empty-handed.
