So much is in the air at St James’ Park but anything but a win at Crystal Palace will only hasten a new dawn
06:00, 03 Apr 2026
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner (left) and Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
When Newcastle United eventually return to competition after what will have seemed like an endless agony of nothingness for Eddie Howe, it will be to a game laced with irony.
A trip to the smoke taking in the palace is normally a journey of joy and high anticipation. It may result in a royal handshake and a gong to treasure forever or at the very least a selfie standing proudly next to a Coldstream Guard ramrod upright in full plumage.
However for Howe and his under-achieving players it will feel more like a visit to the Tower of London than Buck House because a resumption of Premier League hostilities in just over a week’s time – on Sunday, April 12 – pairs them against Crystal Palace in an all-or-nothing return to reality following the double disaster of Barcelona and Sunderland.
It’s a confrontation between two sides who tasted unbridled joy not that long ago after a mighty wait, but have fallen spectacularly from their lofty perch.
After three weeks of stewing in our own juice this will see the spotlight shone unerringly upon Newcastle for all the wrong reasons. To see if once more weak surrender will be the answer to a growing hell. The second-half shows against both Barca and in the derby beggared belief. It was like dropping off a cliff edge.
What a difference to just a year ago. Last season United and Palace were glorious interlopers snatching the accolades off the regular elite much to the delight of all neutrals who relish change.
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United won their first domestic trophy in 70 years, the Carabao Cup, and on the same Wembley field of dreams Palace went one better claiming the first silverware in their entire history when the FA Cup became theirs. Both clubs did it by overwhelming football royalty – the Mags defeated the PL champions elect Liverpool while the Eagles lowered the colours of habitual cup collectors Manchester City.
My, how times have changed. Fast forward to now and both clubs reside in the lower half of the PL and star players have bailed out – Alexander Isak at Newcastle and Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi at Palace. As a consequence the natives are distinctly restless. Palace fans have had a dip at manager Oliver Glasner, previously seen as a messiah but who is getting out himself at the end of their campaign. Likewise Howe has received growing criticism highlighted by him and his players being booed off after deadly rivals Sunderland completed the double over us.
If we have had to suffer shock defeats like Sunderland twice plus Brentford and Everton in successive home matches then it could be argued that Palace were even more embarrassed when their defence of the FA Cup saw them knocked out at non-league Macclesfield.
So who is under the most pressure as we approach a return to action? Oh Newcastle unquestionably. We have the greater history, the larger fan base, the richer owners, and the relentless spotlight. Big things are supposed to happen.
However it is a long way back to wall-to-wall sunshine and total belief on Tyneside. Victory over Palace wouldn’t change the overall gloomy picture but defeat would certainly add to it and to unrest.
If Glasner’s future is already decided – he goes – then Howe has a seven match run-in to impress or implode. Everything is up in the air. Which players go, who comes, Eddie ordering a cake for his fifth anniversary party in November or a taxi. I said the derby defeat felt like the end of an era and basically it is. The Great Plan has ran its course. Now we must readjust and go again.
However Eddie has got the schedule he has been banging on about all season – one game a week leaving him valuable time to work with players on the training pitch which suggests an upturn in results should be forthcoming but equally adds to the pressure with no excuses left for any catastrophic defeats.
Perhaps we have left ourselves with little wiggle room when it comes to defining a year’s work – minor European places are the only consolation prize on offer – but victory is essential at Palace for Eddie and his recent easy-beats as they begin their long run for home.
Non-league success stories
As we celebrate Easter and take time to paint our hard boiled eggs perhaps we should extend holiday goodwill to our non-league brethren batting for honours under the guidance of friends.
First to former Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot who has worked a miracle at Gateshead lifting them from a National League dungeon of despair 10 points shy of safety from relegation to five points clear of it. That is a nose bleed of a rise for which with my history I am extremely grateful.
Next my thoughts are with Geoff Thompson, a lovely man who has bankrolled South Shields to four league titles and an FA Vase win in a decade long devotion. The Mariners are second top of the National League North looking to automatically gain promotion to the division only one down from the Football League.
And finally may I offer my backing to another mate, former Newcastle Entertainer Steve Watson who as manager of Darlington – part timers when a lot of opponents are full time – has steered them into the play-off positions in South Shields’ division.
Pity they face one another on Easter Monday but there is still enough leeway for both to achieve their objective.
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