Theme for Rafael Benítez is Newcastle’s failure to take control | David Hytner


The chance conversion rate has been an achilles heel this season and so it proved again at Crystal Palace

All of a sudden Newcastle United had two on one. The break had started inside their own half and Kenedy, the January loan signing from Chelsea, who was leading it, had time to consider his options.

Everybody inside Selhurst Park knew which one he would take – the square ball to Ayoze Pérez – and so it became a question of whether he could work it or not. He could not. When Kenedy released the pass, Pérez was flagged for offside. It was the 47th minute, Newcastle were 1-0 up and they had blown the chance to take control of a relegation six-pointer.

Related: Luka Milivojevic penalty earns Crystal Palace draw with Newcastle

Continue reading...