ALEXANDER ISAK can expect another text from Alan Shearer soon – though this one might not be as friendly.
Newcastle’s record £60million striker has been messaging the Magpies icon since arriving from Real Sociedad.
The Swede was electric on his scoring debut at Liverpool but he royally fluffed his lines on his first outing at St James’ Park.
Toon had chance after chance to see off Palace, with the best by a distance falling to Isak in the first half.
One-on-one, without a defender in sight, in front of the Gallowgate, Isak couldn’t have dreamt for a better situation to announce himself to the Geordie nation.
But instead of putting his foot through it the 6ft 4in forward went for a cheeky chip which was easily saved by Vicente Guaita.
You certainly wouldn’t have seen Newcastle’s favourite son trying anything like that – and you can well imagine Shearer screaming “JUST HIT IT, MAN!” in the Match of the Day studio.
Isak would have become the first Newcastle player to score in his first two Prem games since Les Ferdinand back in 1995
Yet it was not to be in what was ultimately a super frustrating afternoon for Eddie Howe’s side.
The mood on Tyneside has not been this positive since the day of Sir Les and Kevin Keegan.
However, it is now five games without victory – equalling the longest winless run under Howe.
Isak recovered from a dead leg after scoring at Liverpool but there was still no Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin or Bruno Guimaraes.
It was a fast start from Toon with man-mountain Joelinton bossing the midfield to pen passive Palace back.
They struggled to carve the Eagles open but 16 minutes in and Isak had the sort of chance he would have been dreaming of on Friday night to announce himself properly to the Geordie nation.
The Swede created it for himself, charging down sloppy Joachim Andersen on halfway.
He charged in on goal at the Gallowgate and the whole of St James’ Park fell silent, ready to explode.
Yet rather than keeping it simple and burying into the corner or rounding Vicente Guaita, Isak tried to dink it but the Spanish stopper stood tall to block and leave the new boy red faced.
Palace briefly threatened in a scrappy first half – Jean-Philippe Mateta had their best chance, forcing Nick Pope into a smart stop to his right.
Newcastle then had a second wind but somehow failed to go into the break ahead.
Sean Longstaff’s glancing header from Matt Targett’s cross was well saved and Cheick Doucoure somehow scrambled it away on the line to prevent a Joelinton tap in.
It fell to Sven Botman and it looked for all the money like he would open his Magpies account before Marc Guehi’s heroic block.
Moments later, Guaita was stranded in the middle when Miguel Almiron’s volley from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection but it cannoned off the post and away.
Isak was given a reprieve just before the break after a rapid break down the right but his shot was tame and straight at Guaita.
Newcastle finally had the ball in the net 51 minutes in – via Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell – before VAR ruled it out.
A deep free-kick was nodded across goal by Sven Botman before Joe Willock, trying to head home, collided with Guaita.
It looked nasty and both players required lengthy treatment after Mitchell, who clearly nudged Willock in the back forcing him into Guaita, put it into his own net.
Shearer for one was raging, tweeting: “Willock clearly pushed into the keeper. Pathetic decision.”
Furious as ref Michael Salisbury, the ignited Toon Army cranked up the volume as Miguel Almiron lashed one wide just after.
Palace had barely threatened all game but with 17 minutes to go they had their clearest opening.
Sub Odsonne Edouard worked it onto his right 10 yards out after wriggling through two defenders but Nick Pope stuck out his right leg to deflect it behind.
Not much had gone right for Isak all afternoon but he showed his vision and class with a lovely through ball to the onrushing Willock, but Guaita was up to task again with a stellar stop down to his right.
And the midfielder really should have sealed the three points as the clock ticked on but he got it all wrong as he spooned a bouncing ball in a congested box horribly wide.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
