NEWCASTLE stormed to third in the Prem after turning an amazing climax to the first half into a riot.
Ill boss Eddie Howe received another huge boost in his absence – after Palace fluffed a penalty chance to level and then saw the Magpies hit three goals.
Jacob Murphy's cross-shot opener on 14 minutes rewarded Newcastle's fine start.
And despite the Toon's excellent first period, it could have been so different if a bizarre series of quickfire incidents had gone differently.
Crystal Palace won a penalty for a soft Nick Pope foul – after a VAR intervention – but the keeper saved Eberechi Eze's tame effort.
The Magpies broke immediately to double their lead as Marc Guehi looped a 38th-minute own goal over his own keeper Dean Henderson.
Then came two more Toon strikes deep in first-period stoppage time.
Sandro Tonali freed Harvey Barnes for a lashed finish, before Fabian Schar nodded Newcastle's fourth.
Alexander Isak curled a 25-yard fifth goal on 58 minutes as the Magpies moved two points clear of fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.
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Jacob Murphy's cross-shot opener on 14 minutes rewarded Newcastle's fine start.
And despite the Toon's excellent first half, it could have been so different if a bizarre minute had gone differently.
Crystal Palace won a penalty for a soft Nick Pope foul after a VAR intervention, but the keeper saved Eberechi Eze's tame effort.
And the Magpies broke immediately for Marc Guehi to loop a 38th minute own goal over his own keeper Dean Henderson.
Then came two more Toon goals deep in stoppage time.
Sandro Tonali freed Harvey Barnes for a lashed finish, before Fabian Scharnodded Newcastle's fourth.
And Alexander Isak curled a 25-yard fifth goal on 58 minutes.
