Crystal Palace edged a point closer to safety by battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Selhurst Park.
The Magpies, who are now unbeaten in 11 games against Palace in all competitions, made the breakthrough in a first half devoid of any real clear-cut chances courtesy of Papiss Cisse's powerful header.
Yannick Bolasie's introduction 20 minutes from time made a huge difference for an Eagles side struggling to find that extra bit of quality needed in the final third, and it was his cross which led to Fraizer Campbell's equaliser just a few moments later.
Read how all the action in South London unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
7pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park.
7.02pmAlan Pardew comes up against the club he managed for four years this evening, and the fortunes of both sides have been somewhat contrasting since he packed his bags and set sail from Tyneside. Palace come into this game with one defeat in eight outings in all competitions, while the Magpies have won just once under the caretaker management of John Carver.
7.03pmKickoff in South London is now less than an hour away, so let's take a look at how these two teams line up...
7.05pmTEAM NEWS!
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Hangeland, Kelly, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon, Zaha, Chamakh, Sanogo
NEWCASTLE UNITED STARTING XI: Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, Williamson, Haidara, Colback, Sissoko, Cabella, Perez, Gouffran, Cisse
7.07pmThere is a welcome return to the Palace starting lineup for Marouane Chamakh, who has recovered from a broken nose inflicted in the recent defeat against Everton to feature from the off here tonight. Another man who was expected to be fit enough this evening, Yannick Bolasie, has not quite recovered in time to start, but he is among the Eagles' subs.
7.09pmPerhaps surprisingly, the man who has enjoyed playing against Newcastle more than any other player this season in Dwight Gayle misses out. He drops to the bench with Chamakh coming in, and the former Arsenal star will partner a current Gunner with Yaya Sanogo given the nod in attack. Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha will occupy positions out wide, while James McArthur and match winner last weekend Joe Ledley are tasked with battling in midfield.
7.11pmThe visitors have opted to make two changes, meanwhile, with Papiss Cisse and Yohan Gouffran coming into the fold in place of Vurnon Anita and Sammy Ameobi. The Magpies will set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, meaning they have travelled to South London with the intention of attacking.
7.13pmCheick Tiote remains sidelined with an ankle injury, meaning that Moussa Sissoko will occupy what appears to be a position in deep midfield, while Siem de Jong has suffered another setback in his hopes of returning from injury so will not feature for the next couple of months. Remy Cabella was often overlooked during Pardew's time at St James' Park, and he will have the chance to get one over on his former boss here tonight playing in a three just off the striker.
7.15pmBENCH WATCH!
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBSTITUTES: Hennessey, Mariappa, Bolasie, Mutch, Campbell, Murray, Gayle
NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Woodman, Dummett, R.Taylor, Abeid, Anita, Obertan, Riviere
7.17pmJordon Mutch has to make due with a place among the Palace backups this evening in one of three changes from last time out, while there is plenty of attacking options in the shape of another former Cardiff City player Fraizer Campbell, who is joined by Glenn Murray and the aforementioned Gayle. Scott Dann misses out altogether due to the head injury suffered against Leicester, meanwhile, with Adrian Mariappa providing cover should it be needed.
7.19pmIt is a more reserved bench as far as Newcastle are concerned, with the likes of Vernon Anita, Ryan Taylor and Paul Dummett joined by Gabriel Obertan and Emmanuel Riviere. One of the two men to drop out of the side from the draw against Stoke City in Ameobi misses out on the squad completely.
7.21pm
The pitch is prepared for kick-off ahead of @CPFC's match against @NUFC Follow all the action: http://t.co/5vCtFI8E8B pic.twitter.com/KgQSZi0acD
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 11, 20157.24pmOf course, the main talking point heading into this game surrounds former Toon boss Alan Pardew, who packed his bags and returned "home" at the turn of the year following a somewhat 'lively' spell in charge of Newcastle shall we say. Whether it is linked or now, Newcastle have failed to kick on since the Englishman departed, winning just one game and losing three in that time. Palace, on the other hand, have hit a rich vein of form and have tasted defeat just once under their new manager - that coming at home to Everton in a 1-0 reverse.
7.27pmThat has seen the gap between these two sides close right up, with three points for the hosts this evening enough to take them within two points of the Magpies in the league table. It was perhaps unsurprising to hear Pardew's former right-hand man John Carver tip him with the England managerial job, then, which is high praise indeed (I think...). He may have brought European football back to Tyneside, recorded a string of top-10 finishes and recruited a raft of exciting names, yet that was not enough for 'Pards' to win over supporters in his four years at St James' Park.
7.30pmThose who regularly watch the club were hugely disappointed by Pardew's attitude when it came to cup competitions, where he fielding his strongest side on just one occasion of note - the Europa League quarter-final tie against Benfica. Supporters were also miffed by the fact that the man in charge simply went along with owner Mike Ashley's orders, which soon led to a breakdown in relationship which strained so deep that it never truly healed. Well that is all in the past, and now these two sides have begun new chapters.
7.33pmWell, sort of anyway. Newcastle will remain in caretaker charge until the end of the campaign, another decision which has annoyed fans of the North-East club who believe that by failing to recruit a permanent manager in January the white flag has already been waved. Try all he wants to attempt and play things up, Carver is not kidding anyone when he claims that there is still plenty to play for. This looks set to be a season of mediocrity for the Magpies, with relegation not really a threat and Europe seemingly out of the question.
7.36pmThat perhaps goes some way to explaining the subdued atmosphere inside St James' Park on the weekend for the visit of Stoke, a match in which Newcastle threw away late on having themselves edged ahead 15 minutes from time. It means that they currently sit 11th in the table, five points ahead of tonight's opponents and simply aiming to win as many games as possible to climb up the ranks. Following this game the Toon face a tough run of fixtures, though, taking on Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and local rivals Sunderland all in their next eight games.
7.39pmPalace do have something to play for, meanwhile, with survival not yet guaranteed. That defeat against Everton 10 days ago, a game which saw the Eagles struggle to get going in truth with a somewhat flat performance, left them hovering precariously close to the drop zone ahead of their meeting with Leicester. They of course went on to win that match with hero of the hour Joe Ledley and teammate Julian Speroni both hailing the "key" victory. Pardew says the aim is to finish in midtable, and that triumph has provided the club with a real springboard to push on now.
7.41pmMuch like Newcastle, Palace face a tough run of fixtures of their own in the coming weeks as they take on Arsenal, West Ham United and Southampton in successive games. The beauty of the Premier League means that everyone seems to be playing for something right up until the last game of the season. Unless you're Newcastle.
7.43pmIn case you missed the team news a little earlier, Gayle starts on the bench this evening...
2 - Dwight Gayle has opened the scoring in both matches between Newcastle & Crystal Palace this season. Breeze.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 11, 20157.46pmPREVIOUS MEETINGS The omens are good for Newcastle if past encounters are anything to go by, having gone 10 games without defeat against Palace - winning eight and drawing two of those meetings. These sides have already met twice this season; playing out a 3-3 draw at St James' in the league, while United came out on top by the odd goal in five in an entertaining league cup meeting here in South London.
7.49pmDID YOU KNOW? Furthermore, Newcastle have scored two or more goals on each of their last five visits to Selhurst Park, so history really is on their side coming into this one. There is some good news for Palace fans, however, as their opponents have the worst goalscoring record in the first half of games this term, scoring just eight times in the opening 45 minutes.
7.52pmThere are five other games taking place in the Premier League this evening, with Burnley already trailing Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Another side camped firmly in the bottom half of the table, West Bromwich Albion, take on Swansea City in another of the 8pm kickoffs. Updates will be provided throughout the night, but attention now turns firmly to events in South London.
7.55pmPREDICTION: The incentive for picking up three points is certainly there for both of these sides this evening, although you get the impression that it means just a little more for Palace who are eager to push away from the drop zone. That said, Newcastle will also be keen to push on having picked up four points from their last two outings, and that's why I believe this will end in a 2-2 draw.
7.57pmKickoff is now just a few minutes away, meaning that there is still time to check out Sports Mole Sofa's preview of this evening's battle at Selhurst Park:
7.59pmWell the teams are now out onto the field, with Pardew and Carver sharing a brief conversation on the sidelines. Can the former Toon boss continue his side's revival here tonight? Let's find out...
0 minKICKOFF! We're underway in South London, as Palace look to get their foot on the ball in the early stages. Newcastle are in their silver away kit this evening, incidentally, while the Eagles are sporting their traditional striped kit.
2 minSHOT! A promising start from the hosts, and at the end of a decent move Sanogo plays in Zaha with the latter testing Krul early on who collects down low. He was at a very tight angle inside the area and it would have taken a lot to beat the Dutchman from there.
4 minAll Palace in these opening four minutes or so, with Puncheon's dangerous cross into the box being headed behind for a corner which subsequently comes to nothing. Pardew will be delighted with the way his side have started here.
6 minIt's Newcastle's turn to attack in this high-tempo contest at Selhurst Park. Gouffran perhaps had a chance to fire away on the edge of the box but opted instead to play it out wide, which in the end proved to be wrong option. Both teams are looking to attack which is always a good sign.
8 minFinally a bit of calm now as the game begins to take a bit of shape. Palace look particularly confident on the ball, while their supporters are responding by producing a good noise.
10 minA huge cry of "Alan Pardew's red and blue army" goes up from the home supporters. That early spell of pressure from the hosts which culminated in Zaha tested Krul down low is the closest we have come to a breakthrough so far.
13 minSome silky footwork from Zaha earns Palace a free kick out wide after Sissoko attempted and failed to win back possession. Puncheon whipped in a decent cross which Ledley could only head over the target. That move was not too dissimilar to the Welshman's winner against the Foxes a few days ago.
15 minAnother decent move from the Eagles sees Puncheon lift a ball over to Kelly, who in a near identical position to Zaha before him unleashes a shot for Krul to keep out down low. On this occasion the offside flag was already - wrongly - up on the far side.
17 minA decent enough opening quarter to this clash, then, albeit without a great deal of goalmouth action. It started lively enough, and it is the home side who have made the most of their spells on the ball, although we are still goalless with 17 minutes played.
19 minChamakh, sporting a face mask this evening to protect his recently broken nose, uses his upper body strength well to lay the ball off to Sanogo on the edge of the box, but the Frenchman miscues his initial effort.
21 minNewcastle have struggled to get going so far, bar that shooting chance which Gouffran turned down 10 minutes or so ago, although a little break in play as Kelly receives treatment could help them to rebuild.
24 minStill nothing to separate the two sides and there's not been a great deal in the way of attacking moves. It's a case of the teams cancelling each other out all over the field at the moment, although it is still Palace who appear to have the edge. Sanogo is currently down receiving some treatment, and his evening looks to be over with less than 25 minutes played.
26 minCRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Indeed, Sanogo's match is cut short with Fraizer Campbell on in his place. The one-time England international scored against the Magpies in the FA Cup third round for Cardiff a little over 12 months ago in one of Pardew's lowest points as Toon boss.
28 minNewcastle will be pleased to have seen more of the ball over the last couple of minutes, although they have not done a great deal to trouble their opponents. I've mentioned the Magpies' poor record when it comes to scoring first-half goals this season, and that doesn't look likely to change here tonight.
31 minA decent move from the visitors ends with Speroni intercepting Janmaat's cross in the centre of the box. Puncheon has not made the most of a few chances to pick out teammates up the other end, meanwhile, as this game continues to peter out towards the end of the first half.
33 minGOAL RULED OUT! Campbell thought he had given his side the lead with what was a superb flicked header beyond Krul on the end of Puncheon's cross, but the linesman's flag was up on the far side to his dismay. That was a good call from the officials.
35 minCould that offside goal provide Palace with the spark they need to push on? They have certainly been the better side, but it would be harsh to suggest that Newcastle deserve to be behind. Both teams have just lacked that additional quality needed in the final third.
37 minThere's almost a big breakdown in communication at the back between Coloccini and Krul at the back, but the Dutchman read it well and was able to collect his teammate's pass to avert any further danger.
40 minAyoze Perez is the latest player to stay on the ground following a challenge, summing up just what a stop-start contest we have endured so far. If ever a game has needed a goal, this is it. It started so brightly with both teams showing attacking intent, but there have been little openings of note since then.
42 minGOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (CISSE)
44 minMy prayers have been answered as Cisse heads his side into a first-half lead at Selhurst Park. The goal came about following the first real top-quality cross of the night so far, Janmaat working some space on the right and lofting the ball into a central position from the byline where Cisse was waiting to head home.
45 minThat is Cisse's 10th goal of the season incidentally, and there were strong rumours circulating before kickoff suggesting that he could be on his way out of the club. What a big goal it could be; just Newcastle's ninth in the first half of a league game all campaign.
45+1 minA coin appeared to be thrown in the direction of Coloccini during the celebrations of Newcastle's opening goal, which has now been collected from the outside of the pitch and handed to officials. Not what you want to see.
45+2 minHALF TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED
8.52pmA rather low-quality first half is brought to a close by referee Andre Marriner, and it is Newcastle who hold a slender lead thanks to Cisse's powerful header shortly before the interval. We have seen just one other shot on goal so far, that coming in the opening stages as Zaha tested Krul with a rather tame effort.
8.55pmFraizer Campbell, who was introduced with a quarter of the game gone in place of the injured Sanogo, did have the ball in the net at one stage with a delicately flicked header, but it was ruled out for offside. In terms of possession, Palace have edged out their opponents with 54% of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, yet it is they who trail at the break.
8.57pmThe Newcastle No.9's header separates the two sides at the end of the first half; the Senegalese powering Janmaat's fine cross into the back of the net.
1 - Papiss Cisse currently has the best mins-per-goal rate of any player with 5+ goals in the Premier League this season. Effective.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 11, 20159pmBENCH WATCH!
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBSTITUTES: Hennessey, Mariappa, Bolasie, Mutch, Murray, Gayle
NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Woodman, Dummett, R.Taylor, Abeid, Anita, Obertan, Riviere
9.02pmThe hosts have already been forced into the one change with Campbell replacing Sanogo up top, meaning that Pardew is restricted into making just a couple of subs in this second half. He has plenty of attacking options to call upon should he wish, while Obertan and Riviere provide a threat for the Magpies.
45 minSECOND HALF UNDERWAY! We're back underway in South London. Interestingly, Palace have come back from behind to win games on four occasions this term, so this one is far from over.
47 minMuch like in the first half, Palace start strong and earn a free kick out wide thanks to the trickery of Zaha. It's another decent enough cross from Puncheon, too, who picks out Zaha in a central position. His acrobatic effort failed to test Krul, however, with the home side still chasing a goal.
49 minYELLOW CARD! James McCarthur earns the game's first caution for his lunge on Cabella.
51 minNewcastle get bodies forward from the subsequent free kick, and with the ball bouncing around on the edge of the box Williamson tries his luck on the turn with an effort which flies well wide of the target.
53 minThe game has an end-to-end feel about it now much like we saw in the early stages of the first half, and Palace have just had half a shout for a penalty turned down when Campbell went down inside the box. Replays showed that Williamson fairly won the ball from him, though, so that is another correct decision from the officials.
55 minYELLOW CARD! Janmaat joins McCarthur in the referee's book following a coming together with Zaha. That seemed a little harsh in fairness.
56 minYELLOW CARD! Add Colback to that growing list of yellows, and this one was deserved. Zaha once more worked his magic, forcing his opponent to lunge in and concede a free kick.
58 minZaha has been heavily involved since the interval, as he was in the first half. In the opening 45 minutes he recovered the ball on eight occasions - an impressive figure for a winger - although he was not so successful with his take-ons, coming out on top just twice in eight attempts to beat his man.
60 minPalace are upping the pressure as we pass the hour mark, getting more balls into the box and asking questions of the Newcastle backline, but they still have just that one shot on goal for the night. That simply needs to improve if they are to gain anything from this game.
62 minNewcastle just remind Palace that they are not going to simply sit back on this slender lead, pushing forward up the other end but seeing their attack break down when a cross from Janmaat is overhit. Gayle appears to be ready to come on as he walks towards the sidelines.
64 minPuuncheon whips in a corner kick into a central area, and Williamson doesn't quite get the contact he desired on the ball. It falls nicely into the welcoming hands of Krul, though, meaning that the danger is averted. That Palace change is now about to take place.
66 minCRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Gayle, who has scored two goals against United already this season, comes on in place of Chamakh. Fourteen minutes remaining for Palace to find an equaliser.
68 minCRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Pardew opts to roll the dice for the final time by bringing on the returning Bolasie in place of Ward. Ledley will presumably slot in at left-back.
70 minI'm expecting Palace to really up things in the final 20 minutes with those fresh legs now on the field. This game has badly lacked quality in the attacking third, bar that move that led to Cisse's goal which separates the two sides.
71 minGOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (CAMPBELL)
72 minPalace's first moment of real quality of the evening leads to their breakthrough goal. Bolasie, on the field for just a few short minutes, swung in a superb ball from the right and Campbell slid in to level up from close range.
74 minThe former Sunderland man showed good movement to get on the end of that Bolasie cross, and he was clearly happy to score against the Magpies. Pardew also broke into celebration on the touchline, hugging Chamakh who was clearly the wrong man in the wrong place.
76 minCHANCE! What a huge chance for Palace to take the lead! Once more it was Bolasie who created it from the right, and a flick on at the near post helped the ball on to Zaha who had space inside the box, but his shot was superbly blocked by Janmaat just seven yards or so from goal.
78 minSHOT! It has taken a while, but this game has finally come to life since that Palace leveller. Newcastle come forward for the first time in a while, and when Cisse was afforded run to shoot 25 yards from goal he needed no second invitation to unleash. It was a poor effort in the end, however, ending well wide of goal.
80 minNEWCASTLE UNITED SUB: Carver hauls off Cisse with Riviere on in his place. Ten minutes left and this game hangs on a knife edge.
82 minBolasie has certainly changed this game since being introduced:
#CPFC 1-1 #NUFC There's your spark. Bolasie's cross stabbed in first time by Campbell http://t.co/NO3qqL2ZmI pic.twitter.com/uuCown9w2s
— Gregg Davies (@GreggDavies) February 11, 201584 minBoth teams are pressing forward at the moment, with Palace looking the more likely to find a way through. All of the night's earlier kickoffs have now concluded, meaning that the Premier League table is a little clearer. As things stand Newcastle are in 11th place; the Eagles 13th. Still just the five points between them and the drop zone, though. A late goal really would be massive.
85 minThe last four fixtures between these sides has seen five goals scored between the 85th and 90th minute.
86 minNEWCASTLE UNITED SUB: A defensive change from Carver as we enter the closing stages; Dummett on for Cabella.
88 minSAVE! Great stop from Tim Krul! He has had next to nothing to do all evening, but he was on guard to get across to deny Hangelaand's header which was heading for the back of the net.
89 minNewcastle seem happy to take the point, whereas Palace are eager to collect all three. Still a minute plus added time to play in South London.
90 minNEWCASTLE UNITED SUB: Perez is withdrawn late on with Riviere on in his place. Three minutes of added time to be played.
90+1 minDummett goes to ground following a coming together with Bolasie to eat up some valuable time.
90+2 minPalace have won themselves a throw high up the field, so there may be a chance to get the ball into the box here as we enter the final minute...
90+3 minFULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED
9.55pmReferee Andre Marriner brings the game to an end, with the sides playing out a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. A point seems about right on the balance of things, and Palace now find themselves one point closer to safety. Newcastle failed to push on from their first-half advantage and that cost them in the end, as the Eagles levelled things up thanks to Campbell's strike on 71 minutes.
9.57pmWell that's all from me for the time being, but be sure to stick around as we bring you a full match report, player ratings and analysis from this evening's match in South London.
