Newcastle United produced a ruthless performance at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, dismantling Crystal Palace 5-0 to surge into third place in the Premier League standings and take a giant leap toward Champions League qualification.

The emphatic victory, achieved under the guidance of assistant coach Jason Tindall in the absence of manager Eddie Howe (sidelined due to illness), marked the Magpies’ sixth consecutive win across all competitions. With just a few games left in the campaign, Newcastle now sit five points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea and are firmly in control of their European destiny.

The match started with a burst of intensity from the hosts, and it didn’t take long for the breakthrough. Jacob Murphy opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a thunderous finish from a tight angle after a sweeping move down the right flank. Crystal Palace responded positively and were handed a golden opportunity to equalize when VAR awarded a penalty for a foul in the box. But Eberechi Eze saw his effort brilliantly saved by Nick Pope, marking the goalkeeper’s first penalty stop in five years.

Newcastle capitalized on the momentum shift and doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Harvey Barnes’ low cross was deflected into the net by Palace defender Marc Guéhi. The goal was officially recorded as an own goal, but Barnes wouldn’t be denied for long. In first-half stoppage time, he netted Newcastle’s third after being played in behind the defense.

The home side added a fourth before the halftime whistle through Fabian Schär, who rose unchallenged to head home from a corner. At 4-0 up by the break, the game was all but over as a contest.

In the second half, Alexander Isak put the finishing touch on a commanding display. The Swedish striker pounced on a defensive error, curled a composed finish into the bottom corner in the 58th minute, and made it 5-0. Despite Crystal Palace registering an expected goals tally of 2.02, they failed to find the back of the net Eze’s missed penalty being their closest chance.

The result is a crushing blow for Oliver Glasner’s Palace, who have now conceded eight goals in their last two league outings following a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Defensive lapses will be a concern as the Eagles prepare for their upcoming FA Cup semi-final.

For Newcastle, it was a near-perfect evening. Dominant in attack, resolute in defense, and clinical in finishing, the Magpies are peaking at the right time in the season. With Champions League football now firmly within reach, the Toon Army have every reason to believe this could be a special campaign.