Premier League - Newcastle snatch last-minute victory against Palace

Papiss Cisse celebrates his goal with Newcastle assistant manager John Carver (Reuters)

Premier League, St James’ Park, Newcastle United 1 (Cisse 90+3) Crystal Palace 0

Newcastle United struck deep into stoppage time to take three points and break Crystal Palace hearts.

After 93 minutes of stalemate, Hatem Ben Arfa, back from injury, picked out Papiss Cisse in the box and the striker headed past Julian Speroni to send St James’ Park wild.

Until that point the match had 0-0 written all over it, not least due to both sides’ poor scoring records of late. With Loic Remy and Marouane Chamakh, each side’s top scorer, both injured, it was difficult to see where the goals would come from.

But whereas last week Palace were shameless in their attempt to play for a goalless draw against Sunderland, today they were much more expansive, with Cameron Jerome proving a useful outlet up front. It was he, though, who wasted Palace’s best chance of the match when they had three on two, electing to shoot rather than play in a teammate.

Palace pressured Newcastle in the second half and Yannick Bolasie saw a shot come back off the bar. It was Newcastle, though, who were turning the screw in the final stages – thanks in part to the introduction of the creative Ben Arfa. Cheick Tiote hit the bar in stoppage time but there was still time for Cisse to apply the decisive touch with the last attack of the match.

Palace boss Tony Pulis will be gutted to leave the North East empty-handed, having come so close to a valuable away point.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle). Back from injury, the Frenchman started on the bench but came on to apply the pressure that saw the Palace rear-guard eventually crumble. You sensed Ben Arfa was finding his feet again with every touch and in the dying moments he provided the beautiful assist for Newcastle’s winner.

PLAYER RATINGS

Newcastle: Krul 6, Yanga-Mbiwa 6, Williamson 6, Coloccini 6, Dummett 6, Sissoko 7, Anita 6, Tioté 6, Gouffran 7, de Jong 5, Cissé 6... Subs: Marveaux 5, Ben Arfa 8, Shola Ameobi 6.

Crystal Palace: Speroni 7, Mariappa 6, Dann 6, Delaney 6, Ward 7, Dikgacoi 5, Jedinak 7, Bolasie 7, Ledley 6, Puncheon 6, Jerome 6... Subs: Guedioura 6, Bannan 7, Murray 5.