Newcastle player ratings v Crystal Palace: Under pressure man unsung hero with 9/10 display
Forwards
Ayoze Perez – 8: Utilised as a second striker behind former Palace man Gayle, the Spaniard showed signs of why he started the season as a favourite under Rafael Benitez, and even managed to threaten Wayne Hennessey with a shot or two in the first half. Not the natural playmaker the manager wants there, he is the best option at the moment.
Dwight Gayle – 5: Leading the line against his old club would have been daunting enough, but he came up against a very physical backline which offered him very little during the opening 45 minutes. The balls which came his way were too high for him to win headers, and drilled crosses tended to find a blue and red shirt instead.
Click below to reveal how the Newcastle substitutes got on…