After all the pre-match bluster surrounding Zaha’s plea for referees to protect him before his “leg is broken” by a dangerous challenge, this was a pretty dull draw.
In fact, Zaha nearly didn’t make it to kick-off, as Palace’s talismanic striker a hurt his back during the warm-up and hurried back inside for treatment.
He was declared fit to play, but he did not look like the man who has struck three goals in four games this season.
Perhaps the bigger story was that Mike Ashley was a surprise visitor to Selhurst Park, as the Newcastle owner hasn’t watched his team live since May 2017.
The Toon Army gave him plenty of stick, and they also let themselves down during the second half when someone threw a bottle on to the pitch which appeared to hit Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.
It meant that all the main talking points were about events off the pitch, and although Magpies boss Rafa Benitez had said that matches against teams like Palace were “easier”, he would have been relieved to have left London with a point.
The Eagles might have scored in the second minute. Andros Townsend delivered a delicious cross from the right to the back of the six-yard box, but James McArthur planted a free header over the bar.
That set the tone as Palace – seeking their 100th Premier League victory – enjoyed the better of the chances, with skipper Luka Milivojevic at the heart of them.
He saw two free kicks saved by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, and then when he tried to deliver one into the danger area rather than go for goal, his whipped cross evaded everyone and bounced off the far post.
Ayoze Perez might have done better for Newcastle when he pounced on some sloppy defending by James Tomkins to give himself a good shooting chance on the edge of the box, but he struck it straight at goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
Skipper Jamaal Lascelles also should have done better when he peeled away to meet Jonjo Shelvey’s corner at the near post, but he miscued his free header.
Newcastle looked a little sharper up front after the break when Joselu replaced the ineffective Solomon Rondon, but they remain winless this season.
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