Four takeaways from Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw at Newcastle – scoring goals could prove an issue and Guiata is Mr Consistent again

BY ADAM SELLS

Crystal Palace drew 0-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday – but needed a controversial VAR decision to go in their favour to come away with a share of the spoils.

Here are Adam Sells’ four takeaways from the Premier League match.

DOGGED DEFENDING EARNS FIRST CLEAN SHEET

It often wasn’t pretty, but Palace fought tooth and nail to earn their first clean sheet of the season. There was plenty of penalty box pinball at times as Patrick Vieira’s men held on for the point.

Vicente Guaita was outstanding, the back four in front of him were also heroic. A mix of goal-line clearances, blocks and interceptions showed a dogged side of the game that would certainly please their manager.

When the team is not fluent and firing on all cylinders, it will be of great comfort to their manager that his players will dig in and see out a game.

A special word for Cheick Doucoure, who epitomised the visitors’ spirit.

MR CONSISTENT AND THEN SOME

 Vicente Guaita underlined his value once again with a tremendous performance between the posts.

The Spaniard made a string of excellent saves in order to secure the Eagles a point.

The goalkeeping department has never been stronger, with Guaita facing competition from Sam Johnstone and Jack Butland, together with exciting young prospects in Joe Whitworth and Owen Goodman.

Under the tutelage of Dean Kiely, competition is fierce but the former Valencia and Getafe goalkeeper is a model of consistency.

Last season Guaita played 30 times and it’s hard to think of an error leading to a goal. Here, and also against Brentford in midweek, he has made crucial saves to earn his side a point.

LADY LUCK SHINES BRIGHT ON MITCHELL

The controversial moment of the game centred around Tyrick Mitchell, who will feel mightily relieved.

Referee Michael Salisbury decided following a VAR intervention, that Mitchell’s 51st-minute own goal should be ruled out after Joe Willock poleaxed the superb Guaita.

The replay showed that Mitchell may well have pushed Willock into his goalkeeper, causing the collision.

Naturally, both managers saw the incident differently. Thankfully for the Palace left-back, he didn’t register his name on the scoresheet with the letters ‘OG’ next to it.

SCORING GOALS MAY BE A STRUGGLE

With the transfer window closing some 40 hours earlier, Palace’s failure to add to their attacking options was evident here.

It seems that the Eagles are at least one attacking midfielder and another forward player light and it showed.

Patrick Vieira again dropped Michael Olise to the bench. The manager would no doubt point to it being a tough away fixture, but it is hard to see how this prodigious talent can only be used here and there in certain games.

Olise has started only five away fixtures since joining the club. The only defeat was at St James’ Park in the corresponding match last season, when he was withdrawn in the first half.

Palace have averaged two points per game in the other four games he has started away from Selhurst Park. That’s Champions League form, which would suggest his manager may be wise to let him loose a little more often.