Newcastle vs Crystal Palace: Player Ratings

Newcastle have not been inspiring confidence lately. This match against Crystal Palace was a chance for Newcastle to play more attacking football, but the side chased a draw instead of a win. It certainly was not an encouraging display, by any means, but a point away from home is a step in the right direction.

Here are the player ratings:

Dubravka- Served the team well in goal. The keeper made some vital saves, was excellent on the ball, and had decent distribution with long balls. 6.5

Yedlin- The young full-back had a difficult assignment tonight in Zaha but held his own for the most part. He did well to keep himself on the pitch after picking up a yellow. 6

Lascelles- The captain missed a clear-cut opportunity in the first half through an unmarked header in the box. As the game progressed, he made some vital blocks in and around the box. Overall, he looked nervy on the ball and gave it away on a few occasions. 6

Fernandez-The new signing had yet another good performance. He kept track of his responsibilities in the center of defense and even made vital contributions on the wings. His tackling ability really saved Newcastle throughout the day. He did have some stray passes, but it’s understandable considering how much he was on the ball. 7

Dummett- The Welshman was as solid as ever. He made some vital clearances. 6

Diame: Our holding midfielder showed glimpses of last season’s form. He did well to break up play and help Yedlin out with Zaha. 6

Shelvey-This was not one of his best performances, since the team was more interested in a draw than a win. He did his best to get the ball up the pitch but his passing was a bit imprecise today. Regardless, every Newcastle fan will be happy to see him back on the pitch. 5.5

Ritchie- He always looked to get forward, which is encouraging. He also did alright in his defensive responsibilities, but he needs to show more discipline with his tackling. Ritchie was lucky that the referee missed his foul on Sakho just outside the box in the first half. 5.5

Ayoze- His spell of bad performances continues. When not on his game, Ayoze Perez is very frustrating to watch. He missed a golden opportunity in the first half when he fired straight at the keeper. Additionally, his link-up was lackluster, and his dribbling was disappointing. Also, he frustrated everyone by wasting time on the floor. 4.5

Kenedy- The once-beloved Brazilian is struggling for form and did little to change that today. His attacking play has lost its sharpness this season, and his lack of defensive effort is incredibly frustrating. Also, he is still lacking discipline even after avoiding a three match ban a few weeks ago. 5

Rondon- The Venezuelan had little to feed off of in the first half. His performance today was pretty uninspiring. 5

Joselu- When he initially came on, he looked lively. His hold-up play was decent, and he was beaming with confidence. He slowly faded away as the second half progressed, but his performance today was encouraging for the most part. 5.5

Atsu- The out-of-form winger is far too casual on the pitch. Once again, he contributed very little off the bench. Bringing him on almost seems like a wasted substitute until you see the lack of options on the bench. 5

Muto- Cameo.