The SHOCK Newcastle United statistic at Crystal Palace as Magpies secure unlikely point

Newcastle United can count themselves lucky they departed Selhurst Park with a point to show for their Crystal Palace efforts.

And the statistics from the encounter only underline how fortuitous Graeme Jones’s Magpies were in South London, as Callum Wilson acrobatically cancelled out a Christian Benteke opener.

POSSESSION: Crystal Palace 75% - Newcastle United 25%

Dominant from start to finish. The home side had three quarters of possession throughout the piece - and for United, that’s just not good enough.

This performances, all told, showed little difference from what went before it under Steve Bruce, bar a little more defensive shape.

SHOTS: Crystal Palace 14 - Newcastle United 6

In truth, it felt like more watching it live.

For large periods of the second half it was one-way traffic against United - and they can really count themselves lucky it was a Christian Benteke on the end of many of these chances.

Next week it will be international teammate Romelu Lukaku. It’s unlikely he will be so profligate.

SHOTS ON TARGET: Crystal Palace 3 - Newcastle United 2

This is the issue with Palace on the day, for all of the possession and chances created, they actually gave Karl Darlow very little to do in terms of saves.

A better side with better finishers would have taken United to pieces with the opportunities opened up.

CORNERS: Crystal Palace 3 - Newcastle United 7

This is about the only metric United shaded on the day. And to be honest, it’s lucky they did, as any more corners peppering the Magpies’ box would surely have resulted in another Benteke goal.