ASH’S BLANK CHECK
Toon owner makes rare visit to watch his club in goalless draw
NEWCASTLE owner Mike Ashley finally turned up to watch his team and must now realise what they need to survive.
Ashley (below) witnessed the shambles of a club at which he refuses to invest, with fans constantly demanding his head.
Palace should have chalked up their 100th win in the Premier League, but they wasted so many chances.
They missed the cutting edge of their Wilfried Zaha, who looked off the pace.
Zaha looked to be carrying the baggage of his outspoken attack on defenders and officials who have made him No.1 target.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson admitted: “I have never known him to be quiet. This wasn’t the Wilf I know.
“Was his outburst to blame? I can’t answer that, but we never muzzle free speech here.
“As I said, he was quiet. He had a back spasm before the game and how that will effect him in the coming weeks is hard to tell.
“Maybe that was also why he was so quiet. Wilf is a sensitvie person and he was surprised by the outcry from his honest comments. He is usually our match-winner.
“Newcastle came with a game plan – not to give us space. It worked.
“Credit to them for achieving their object. We should have won and I am frustrated, but not disappointed.
“There were moments here that made me hopeful for the season and, if we repeat this, we should not be in trouble.” Zaha was certanly quiet. Since 2013, only Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has been fouled more, while last year he was the fourth most fouled player in Europe. In fairness, these are two average sides. They offer much in endeavour and enthusiasm, but overall there is a whiff they will both do well if they claw above mid-table.
Benitez can only tilt at windmills for so long.
He said: “I know Mike was here, but we haven’t spoken yet.
“He was here to support the team and the only thing missing was that he didn’t come on the pitch and score two goals. Palace are a hard team to beat, they have players that can hurt you. We needed to fight and did just that.
“Whether Mike noticed where we need to strengthen is another matter. I hope he saw a side that fought and had wonderful spirit.
“We just lack the final, quality pass – but we’ll improve.”
Palace move the ball well and have a wonderful following at home, but, like Newcastle, they can’t move up a gear when it was needed.
So much is asked of Zaha – and it was noticeable.
James Mcarthur should have put Palace ahead after just two minutes, but he ballooned over Andros Townsend’s cross.
Then was much hope, but not much to excite until Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic swung over a 39th-minute free-kick that everyone missed and it hit a post then bounced clear.
Newcastle arrived with just one point off lowly Cardiff to their names after five games.
But when you consider the other four matches have been against Tottenham, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal, then it’s reasonably understandable that they are where they are right now.
What Benitez needs to do is start driving them in the right direction, starting with getting something from a trip to London – where everybody knows Newcastle have an awful record.
But there was hope here when there seemed to be none before.