2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Aaron Stokes)
As Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali wheeled away in celebration towards a raucous Newcastle United away end, Marc Guehi looked as though he wanted the ground to swallow him up. The Crystal Palace defender, who else, had just turned the ball into his own net and the headlines were beginning to write themselves. It would have been easy for the England international to retreat after his unfortunate mistake - but there is a reason he is the Eagles' captain this season and they fought so hard to keep him at Selhurst Park in the summer.
Instead of allowing the moment to define both him and the afternoon, Guehi set about on a mission to right his wrong with an impressive reaction. In the aftermath of Newcastle 's opener, the centre-back was at the heart of the action. Known for his passing ability, Guehi got to work spraying accurate balls over the Magpies' defence as his team searched for a leveller.
In the 62nd minute, a sublime pass over the top by the 24-year-old evaded Fabian Schar and gave Ismaila Sarr a guilt-edged chance to find the net before his close-range effort was stopped by Nick Pope, while Dan Burn was positioned well to deny Daniel Munoz's follow up. 12 minutes later Guehi again picked out a team-mate from deep, launching a missile of a pass forward as Jean-Philippe Mateta attempted to peel away from his Newcastle markers. On another day he'd have controlled the searching ball over the top and punished the opposition.
Guehi finally got his reward in the dying seconds as he turned from villain to hero with a cross from the left which Munoz headed home. Pandemonium ensued in the home stands, while Newcastle's support suddenly fell silent for the first time in the tie. Stunned at the death, with their summer transfer target at the heart of it.
Looking at Guehi's performance in isolation, there was a lot to like. 80 per cent of his ground duels won, along with 100 per cent of his aerial battles. 83 per cent pass accuracy, three key balls and one, crucial, cross.
A fine showing at both ends of the pitch, his unfortunate error aside. Guehi was brought up in Friday's pre-match press conference but Howe , as ever, remained rather tight-lipped over a player he desperately wanted to arrive at St James' Park just a few months ago. "I’d like to think we know about everyone.
That is regardless of the player and opponent," the Newcastle boss said. “It is very difficult to comment too deeply (on Guehi). Marc is somebody we respect.
He is a very good player." There is no doubt Newcastle need a central defender brought in at some stage in the near future, with Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, both 32, getting no younger. Sven Botman's return can't come soon enough as the Dutchman steps up his return from injury, with former Lille star back in training and raring to return.
With his comeback edging closer with each passing day, there is a chance Howe's central options come the January window may look something like this: Botman, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Lloyd Kelly and possibly Jamaal Lascelles. Throw in youngster Alex Murphy and under-21 talent such as Charlie McArthur and Cathal Heffernan and there's an argument to suggest Newcastle could wait until the summer without strengthening at the back. This, due to the fact finances are still tight on Tyneside despite a fire sale of two young talents and limited incoming business over the summer.
However, Guehi's performance on Saturday was a clear reminder of why Newcastle pushed so hard to sign him in the summer and the Magpies' scouts will no doubt have liked what they saw in the Selhurst Park struggle..
