Newcastle United left Selhurst Park frustrated after being held by Crystal Palace but still made club history by stretching their top-flight unbeaten record to 15 matches for the first time ever.
On a night in which they struck seven shots on target and dominated possession with 61% of the ball they put a six-point gap between themselves and fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and are still very much in Champions League contention. With a point in the pocket they must now focus on League Cup duty with a two-legged semi-final ahead of them against Southampton.
For Eddie Howe, though he may want to make sure no stone is left unturned in the remainder of the window with another source of goals probably needed. After the departure of Chris Wood they have the opportunity to bring in another goalscorer and on this evidence it would do Howe's players no harm to have more competition for places.
Having made the big call - on the advice of his medical team - Howe watched on at Selhurst Park as the Brazil international settled into this Saturday night affair in the capital. Referee Craig Pawson was quickly in the action as he produced a yellow card and booked Marc Guehi for a foul on Sven Botman but the Dutch defender was able to continue.
READ MORE: Newcastle transfers state of play with Everton putting up fight to keep Gordon
Bruno dinked the ball down the left-hand side on six minutes to find Joe Willock and his cross found Miguel Almiron. Unfortunately, Almiron's finish was second-rate by his own standards and the ball went well wide.
Almiron then tried to play Sean Longstaff down the right on 13 minutes but his cross was hacked wide for a corner. Kieran Trippier whipped the corner in but Palace cleared the danger before it dropped back for the ex-Spurs full-back and he was able to lay it off for Dan Burn. However, despite a thumping shot from League Cup hero Burn, Vicente Guaita gathered well.
If fans were worried about Bruno's ankle they needn't have been too concerned as - mid-way through the first half - he went into a meaty challenge with Jeff Schlupp and emerged unscathed. Wilson won a free-kick on 29 minutes after Guehi's foul 25 yards from goal.
But after a training ground routine between Bruno and Trippier, Palace were able to clear the danger and keep the Magpies at bay. Newcastle felt they should have had a penalty when Joelinton's shot brushed off Tyrick Mitchell's arm but nothing was awarded and the subsequent effort was saved by Guaita.
The Eagles finished the first half with Eberechi Eze whipping in a corner in and Chris Richards seeing a free header fly wide. That would have been harsh on Newcastle but by the same token, they didn't make the most of the openings they created in the first 45 minutes.
After spending the first half targeting 33-year-old Joel Ward's ageing legs down the left-hand side, Newcastle went in level at the break but having had eight goal attempts. Newcastle started the second half well enough but it took until 52 minutes for them to get a clear sight of goal as Trippier hung up a cross and Wilson steered a header at Guaita.
With 56 minutes played Joelinton toiled down the right and unleashed a powerful sweeping effort which the former Valencia star gathered with relative ease. Two minutes later, Trippier was booked for a foul on Wilfried Zaha after he turned away from him much to the delight of the Selhurst faithful.
Newcastle won a corner on the hour mark after Trippier's forward run and cross was cleared. Botman met the captain's ball in but his header was high and wide as the quality finish Newcastle were looking for evaded them once more.
Palace made changes with 64 minutes gone as Zaha went off and was replaced by Michael Olise while Schlupp and Eze also went off for Will Hughes and Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Newcastle response came when Howe called on Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak for the final quarter of the night.
There was no surprise when skipper Ward went off after being run hard by Newcastle and his withdrawal coincided with the introduction of Saint-Maximin as Nathaniel Clyne replaced him. With 18 minutes left though the Magpies had to rely on Nick Pope.
Pope had spent much of the night as a spectator but he was on hand with a fine save to palm away Mateta's shot on the turn to keep the scores level and impress watching England boss Gareth Southgate. United steamed forward down the right as Trippier crossed into the box once again to find sub Isak but his header was gathered comfortably by Guaita on 78 minutes.
Moments later, Almiron's shot was deflected behind for another corner which Palace dealt with effectively. Fabian Schar met Trippier's ball in from the right this time but the 36-year-old Palace stopper again saved well. Howe's last throw of the dice came when he threw on Jacob Murphy for the last five minutes with the winger replacing Almiron.
With just four minutes to go Murphy crossed for Isak but the ball for Saint-Maximin at the back post before the French star was crowded out and the ball was deflected wide for a wasted corner. A Longstaff run and cross down the left whizzed across the face of goal with United unable to get anybody on the end of it.
Joelinton picked up a booking for a clash in the corner with Olise with the Palace man also carded. It was a sign of Newcastle's frustration on a night when they could not find a way past Guaita but still left the capital with a point, a clean sheet and that piece of history.
READ MORE
- Everton's Calvert-Lewin stance, Jonjo Shelvey Turkey interest, Chris Wood trigger
- Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe confirms PIF talks as January window hots up
- Chris Wood transfer details as Newcastle United set to land significant sum for striker
- Eddie Howe explains Sean Longstaff journey during his time as boss at Newcastle United
- Newcastle United set for intriguing January finale with Eddie Howe wanting new star to 'excite' fans
