TOON CAN BANK ON CALLUM
Wilson shows he could prove priceless to club’s oil-rich owners
CALLUM WILSON netted a goal befitting the richest club on the planet as Graeme Jones picked up the first point of the new owners’ reign.
The striker produced a superb overhead kick to deliver a share of the spoils for the monied Magpies as they battled as though their lives depended on it in south London.
Wilson sent an acrobatic volley high into Vicente Guaita’s net to level up matters after Christian Benteke finally took one of a glut of chances that came his way.
The spotlight was firmly on the Toon’s interim head coach Jones in the wake of Steve Bruce’s exit earlier this week and, despite being second best for the majority of this feisty scrap, the Tynesiders hung in there.
They even survived a late scare when Benteke sent a header into the net – only for VAR to strangle Selhurst Park’s screams of delight.
Jones paid tribute to Wilson, calling him the ‘best match-day finisher’ he has ever worked with.
He said: “As a goal, it’s right up there – particularly when it’s your first goal as interim.
“And Callum’s a unique striker. He works hard in training. But on match day there’s something which comes out of him – he’s stimulated by it.
“He’s the best match finisher I’ve worked with.
It’s not even half a chance which tells you something about him.”
Jones set out his stall to make the Magpies more defensive.
Despite Wilson’s magnificent effort, Benteke could easily have had a hat-trick. He found the net with one header, thumped another against the post – and missed a hatful of chances.
When he finally found a way through in the final seconds, his header was ruled out.
Jones was happy enough, however, with the manner in which he approached the game and praised his side for the discipline they showed. He added: “For
Callum’s contribution to count, any striker needs defensive stability.
“Crystal Palace are a good side. We have reduced them to a few opportunities. We have to forget the VAR goal, it was disallowed. But having Callum to pull that out of the hat certainly helps.”
Benteke had already missed one glorious chance – set up by the impressive Michael Olise – before he found his range, shortly after the break. It always seemed a case of when, not if, the Eagles would breach the Magpies defence.
Conor Gallagher held off two challenges on the edge of the area to feed the ball to the left where Tyrick Mitchell lifted a lovely centre to the far post. This time there was no reprieve for the visitors.
Benteke then smashed another header against the bar – a second goal then and you suspect it would have been game over.
But Wilson had other ideas. Jamaal Lascelles won the initial header from a left-wing corner. It bounced off Emil Krafth’s head and then Wilson set himself before finding the top corner.
It was a stunning effort – and gave the visitors something to cling on to.
If Benteke had his shooting boots, Palace would have romped it. As it was, he looked to have delivered the killer blow in the dying moments – somehow he was unmarked as he charged onto the ball from a rightwing corner.
VAR official Lee Mason asked referee Darren England to review the incident – and it was ruled out after Marc Guehi was spotted hauling over Ciaran Clark.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira said: “It was frustrating because I think we did enough to get the three points. We were unlucky to concede the way we did.
“We need to improve, to be more clinical. We had enough chances to score more than once.
“When you look at the way we played and moved the ball we are doing some interesting things, game after game.
“But the reality of our world is scoring and conceding goals. We had enough chances to score more than one.
“They created half a chance and scored a fantastic goal. I can be frustrated about many things. But I can’t be frustrated about that.”