Newcastle 5 Crystal Palace 0: Magpies move into third with scintillating show to do ill boss Howe proud

NEWCASTLE stormed to third in the Prem after turning an amazing climax to the first half into a riot.

Ill boss Eddie Howe received another huge boost in his absence – after Palace fluffed a penalty chance to level and then saw the Magpies hit three goals.

Fabian Schar headed Newcastle's fourth just before the breakHarvey Barnes angled the Toon 3-0 up in first-half stoppage timeHarvey Barnes hails his strike in another brilliant win

Jacob Murphy's cross-shot opener on 14 minutes rewarded Newcastle's fine start.

And despite the Toon's excellent first period, it could have been so different if a bizarre series of quickfire incidents had gone differently.

Crystal Palace won a penalty for a soft Nick Pope foul – after a VAR intervention – but the keeper saved Eberechi Eze's tame effort.

The Magpies broke immediately to double their lead as Marc Guehi looped a 38th-minute own goal over his own keeper Dean Henderson.

Then came two more Toon strikes deep in first-period stoppage time.

Sandro Tonali freed Harvey Barnes for a lashed finish, before Fabian Schar nodded Newcastle's fourth.

Alexander Isak curled a 25-yard fifth goal on 58 minutes as the Magpies moved two points clear of fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.

Murphy hailed his breakthrough strike against Crystal PalaceJacob Murphy fired Newcastle in front with a 14th-minute cross-shotDean Henderson was beaten by a Marc Gueho own goal

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Jacob Murphy's cross-shot opener on 14 minutes rewarded Newcastle's fine start.

And despite the Toon's excellent first half, it could have been so different if a bizarre minute had gone differently.

Crystal Palace won a penalty for a soft Nick Pope foul after a VAR intervention, but the keeper saved Eberechi Eze's tame effort.

And the Magpies broke immediately for Marc Guehi to loop a 38th minute own goal over his own keeper Dean Henderson.

Then came two more Toon goals deep in stoppage time.

Sandro Tonali freed Harvey Barnes for a lashed finish, before Fabian Scharnodded Newcastle's fourth.

And Alexander Isak curled a 25-yard fifth goal on 58 minutes.