Crystal Palace claim late win at Newcastle

Luka Milivojevic's 10th penalty of the season gave Crystal Palace a valuable 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Newcastle in their Premier League clash at St James' Park.

Wilfried Zaha was hauled down in the 80th minute and Milivojevic converted the resulting penalty to give Roy Hodgson's side a crucial win.

Palace had been under heavy pressure in the second half but held firm and now move onto 39 points - a tally that surely means they are safe from the threat of relegation.

Newcastle's best chances fell to Salomon Rondon but he could not convert. The one time the Venezuelan did find the back of the net it was ruled out for offside, while the Eagles' James Tomkins also had an effort disallowed.

Newcastle had won five league games in a row at home before this one and now slip down to 15th, but are still seven points above the relegation zone.

Who are the best strikers on the market? Both these teams are likely to be in the market for a striker in the summer. Rondon and Michy Batshuayi, who started today, are both at their respective sides on loan deals and both showed I this game that, while not the worst options out there, they certainly aren’t the best. Rondon missed a couple of great chances and will soon be 30, while Batshuayi struggled to make any impact on the game. Both teams have above-average defences and a top striker - or at least someone capable of scoring 15 goals in a Premier League season - could launch them comfortably clear of danger and into the conversation for seventh place. Finding and signing such a striker is far easier said than done, and they won’t be the only teams in the market.

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace). In a game generally bereft of quality in the final third, he was dangerous and incisive on the ball and that ultimately proved the difference between the teams.

29’ - CHANCE! Yedlin is given time on the ball and picks out an unmarked Rondon at the back post, who heads over but should have done better.

34’ - CHANCE! A cross-field ball to Yedlin stretches the Palace defence and he tees up Rondon, who has a great chance but sees his low effort saved.

42’ - GOAL DISALLOWED! Palace think they've scored from a corner, with Tomkins calmly volleying home, but after some delay the goal is disallowed! Replays show McArthur was offside and obstructing the view of the goalkeeper as he tried to flick the ball on so it's the correct decision - and a huge let-off for Newcastle.

80’ - PENALTY! Zaha bursts past Schar and into the box, where Yedlin needless fouls him as he cuts back inside and it's an easy decision for the referee.

81’ - GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Crystal Palace (Milivojevic pen.). Palace score with their first shot on target as Milivojevic sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Newcastle: Dubravka 6, Yedlin 7, Schar 6, Lascelles 6, Lejeune 5, Ritchie 5, Hayden 6, Ki 6, Perez 5, Almiron 5, Rondon 5. Subs:Dummett 6, Shelvey 5, Atsu 5.

Crystal Palace: Guaita 7, Wan-Bissaka 7, Kelly 6, Tomkins 7, Van Aanholt 6, Milivojevic 6, McArthur 6, Townsend 5, Schlupp 5, Zaha 7, Batshuayi 4. Subs: Dann 6, Kouyate 6, Benteke 6.