You could see why Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira was 'very pleased' to come away from St James' Park with a point. Even Man City manager Pep Guardiola admitted it was a 'difficult place to come' after his side's 3-3 draw against Newcastle United last month.
Was it any wonder? As captain Jamaal Lascelles wrote in his programme notes before Saturday's goalless draw against Palace : "With the way we play, how we get in people's faces and because of the atmosphere you all create, it's very difficult for anyone arriving at St James '."
At this rate, few sides will relish coming to Tyneside in the coming months and years whereas, once upon a time, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal et al did not necessarily dread it. Yes, Newcastle could not find the breakthrough at the weekend, but the Magpies have now only lost one Premier League game at home in 2022.
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To put that record into perspective, that is as many defeats as Man City and Liverpool have suffered at the Etihad and Anfield in the top-flight in the same period while Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all lost more games at home. You have to go back a decade for the last time Newcastle went unbeaten in their opening three league games at St James' and that was when the Magpies were playing in Europe.
As strange as it sounds, Newcastle are starting to play like they are the home team again. Whereas Newcastle were without the ball for large periods as they fought for their lives last season, Eddie Howe's side are slowly having more possession and dominating territory and the shot count at St James' these days.
Newcastle had 58 shots against Nottingham Forest, City and Palace yet, somehow, only came away with five points. As much as that highlights Newcastle's lack of composure in front of goal, particularly on Saturday, this side will only get better, especially when last season's top scorers Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Bruno Guimaraes all return in the coming weeks.
Palace had chances to win the game, themselves, of course, but the visitors were the happier of the two sides with the result after Tyrick Mitchell's own goal was controversially disallowed in the 51st minute. Reflecting on the result, defender Joachim Andersen described St James' as both a 'difficult place to come' and a 'fantastic atmosphere to play in' while Vieira who, of course, has memories of playing at St James' for Arsenal when the stadium was rocking under Sir Bobby Robson, was even more complimentary.
"This is one of my favourite grounds to be honest with you," he told reporters after the 0-0 draw. "The atmosphere is one of the best in the country and that's why they are so strong at home. There is the passion, there is the love. I believe any other teams that come here will find it really tough."
Vieira was not exaggerating. Eddie Howe had wanted the crowd involved in the game from the first minute but, in truth, supporters were already hoarse before then.
The noise was deafening as a chant of 'E-I-E-I-E-I-O - Up the Premier League we go!' went up around the stadium at kick-off. The fans never stopped from there on in; just as Wor Flags welcomed Alexander Isak to the club with a banner in the Gallowgate End before the game, supporters gave the home debutant a standing ovation when he left the field in the 92nd minute.
No matter how many chances Newcastle spurned - the hosts had 23 shots all told - the fans never got frustrated and there were roars of encouragement after Miguel Almiron's deflected effort hit the post. In fact, even after they showed their displeasure after Mitchell's own goal was disallowed, Newcastle supporters channelled that anger and continued to push their side on. That support could make all the difference this season.
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