Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace after the Magpies controversially had a goal disallowed by VAR at St James' Park.
Newcastle had the ball in the back of the net in the 51st minute after Tyrick Mitchell scored an own goal, but Joe Willock was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up on an afternoon where the hosts had a number of chances to win the game.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace highlights
Newcastle fans' VAR fury as Howe has theory
Newcastle finally thought they had made the breakthrough in the 51st minute when Tyrick Mitchell scored an own goal. However, the hosts' joy was short-lived after Joe Willock was found to have fouled goalkeeper Vicente Guaita in the build-up following a VAR check. Replays showed that Willock had been nudged into Guaita by Mitchell before the defender put through his own net after Sven Botman had headed Kieran Trippier's free-kick across.
However, referee Michael Salisbury decided to disallow the goal after Mitchell. As the replay was shown on the big screen at St James', Newcastle fans were incredulous and all four corners loudly booed. Eddie Howe, for his part, felt the officials were 'swayed' by Guaita staying down.
Newcastle lack the killer instinct
Newcastle quickly had a chance to get Anfield out of their system against Palace and, as much as that was a challenge physically - a third Premier League fixture in less than a week - it was a welcome opportunity, too, for the Magpies to get their second win of the campaign in the first of a decent run of fixtures following a testing start.
That was not going to be easy without so many key players, of course, with Bruno Guimaraes, Jonjo Shelvey Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson all absent once again. While others stepped up at Liverpool on Wednesday night, the quartet were missed against Palace.
You certainly could not fault Newcastle's effort and endeavour as the Magpies had 23 shots, but Howe's side repeatedly lacked composure in front of goal. Miguel Almiron's deflected shot hit the post in the 34th before the Paraguay international later dragged an effort wide before the hour mark; Guaita kept out Willock in the 76th minute; and Willock somehow fired wide in the 86th minute when a corner dropped kindly for the midfielder.
In truth, Newcastle looked most likely to score from set-pieces which, perhaps, was telling. The hosts had 13 corners all told and, in the 34th minute, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Sven Botman all went close from one particular delivery as Palace somehow kept the ball out.
Alexander Isak's eventful home debut
Alexander Isak may have suffered a dead leg against Liverpool on Wednesday night, but there was no chance of the club's record signing missing out on the chance to make his home debut. Isak's team-mates and club staff had already given the new arrival half an idea of what to expect about a 'really crazy' atmosphere at St james' Park, but nothing could have quite prepared the new arrival for that roar as he entered the field. Wor Flags even saluted the record signing with his own bespoke banner in the Gallowgate End.
It was not long before Isak had Newcastle supporters on their feet after the Sweden international closed down Joachim Andersen and blocked the defender's clearance just inside Palace's half. Isak then put the afterburners on to seize on the ricochet and race clear, but goalkeeper Vicente Guaita easily dealt with the striker's attempted dink.
It was a huge chance, but Isak did not go into hiding. It was the striker closing down Guaita late on, forcing the Palace goalkeeper to put the ball out for a throw-in. Then, in the 76th minute, Isak slipped Willock in with a fine pass but Guaita kept the midfielder's effort out. Isak ultimately left the field to a standing ovation in stoppage time after taking a blow to the face and you can be sure the striker appreciated that on an afternoon where he could have won his side the game.
Nick Pope shows his value again
For all the shots, corners and territory Newcastle had, the Magpies were always vulnerable to a Palace sucker punch as long as it was goalless. That is where Nick Pope proved his worth both in the first half and after the break. There were 27 minutes on the clock when Pope denied Jean-Philippe Mateta from close range and, then, in the 74th minute, the Newcastle goalkeeper kept out substitute Odsonne Edouard with his knee.
Pope did not have that much to do but, when called upon on Saturday, the England international kept his side in it. Newcastle may have spent more on Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Matt Targett, but Pope already looks like a bargain at £10m.
Not many visiting sides will win at St James' this season
After two big, physical performances on the road at Wolves and Liverpool, Newcastle needed energy and they got it from the terraces on their return to St James' Park. It was Newcastle's first home game since the thrilling match against champions Man City last month and, just like that 3-3 draw, Eddie Howe wanted the crowd in the game from the first minute. That is never an issue at St James' and you suspect the manner of Newcastle's defeat at Anfield helped in that regard.
As captain Jamaal Lascelles wrote in his pre-match programme notes: "Nobody likes playing against us. You saw that with Liverpool's fans - and that was at their place - so when teams come here, it's even more intimidating for them."
Although Newcastle could not break down Palace, the home support stuck with the hosts throughout and it should not come as a surprise that the Magpies have now gone unbeaten in their opening three home fixtures of a Premier League campaign for the first time in a decade. Remarkably, Howe's side have only lost one top-flight fixture at St James' in 2022 - and that was against Liverpool.
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