Bruno Guimaraes goal inspires Newcastle to victory over Crystal Palace

Bruno Guimaraes was Newcastle’s hero as they edged past Crystal Palace to claim a second successive Premier League victory.

The Brazilian put the Magpies in front with a 71st-minute header, his seventh goal of the season, and then sent in the corner from which defender Malick Thiaw stabbed home the second in a 2-0 win which came courtesy of a first clean sheet in 13 attempts.

Until that point, Palace had given as good as they got despite the Magpies having two first-half goals ruled out for offside, although they were unable to make keeper Nick Pope work often enough to reap the rewards of their good play, which £35million debutant Brennan Johnson played his part in.

However, Eddie Howe’s men emerged from the first of nine games in 28 days this month with the win they craved.

The hosts might have been in front within three minutes when Sandro Tonali and Joelinton combined to play in Anthony Gordon down the left and he cut inside defender Marc Guehi before squaring for Yoane Wissa, but the striker fired his first-time effort straight at keeper Dean Henderson.

Palace settled, but the Magpies continued to press and Henderson had to made a fine reaction save from Fabian Schar’s 17th-minute header after the keeper had punched Wissa’s cross straight to Lewis Hall.

Newcastle thought they had taken the lead two minutes later when Wissa ran on to Guimaraes’ through ball and crossed for Gordon to score, but a VAR check came to the visitors’ rescue.

As an intense midfield battle unfolded with Joelinton and Tonali prominent for the hosts and Adam Wharton and Will Hughes making in-roads for Palace, the ball changed hands at regular intervals, although genuine chances were at a premium.

Henderson did well to keep out Hall’s