It certainly wasn't a classic encounter at Selhurst Park, but Eddie Howe's Newcastle side had the better of proceedings as they sought to build on their superb recent run which has taken them into the Premier League's top four.

In the end, though, they were indebted to goalkeeper Nick Pope, who pulled off a magnificent save to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta in the second half and make sure his side extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games.

A scrappy opening saw United - with Bruno Guimarães in midfield, after the Brazilian was passed fit following his ankle injury last weekend - threaten first. Guimarães freed Joe Willock down the left and his cross picked out Miguel Almirón staming into the box, but his first time effort flew behind off his shin.

Dan Burn then tested Vicente Guaita with a firm drive and Joelinton shot straight at the Spaniard after a trademark Fabian Schär burst forward as the Magpies, predictably, began on the front foot. After Joelinton's deflected effort was saved by Guaita, a brief foray forward from the hosts - led by Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Edouard - resulted in a corner which Chris Richards somehow managed to head way over from just over six yards out in what proved to be Palace's only real attack in the half's final moments.

The visitors looked liveliest in the second half's early exchanges, pinning the Eagles back, with Callum Wilson aiming a header at goal which failed to beat Guaita. Joelinton, too, failed to beat the former Valencia stopper from range, and Howe sought to address his side's profligacy by introducing Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin for the final 20 minutes.

But just minutes later it was a Palace sub in Mateta who went closest to winning what was a tight contest. Edouard made his presence felt in the box and the ball fell kindly for Mateta, whose shot was fierce and destined for the net. Unfortunately for Patrick Vieira's men, they found a goalkeeper at the top of his game in their way; Pope had barely been called upon until then but when needed, he produced a superb save to repel the Frenchman's effort, diverting it safely over the crossbar.

That was as close as either side came to finding a winner, with a comfortably-saved header from Isak and a half-chance for Saint-Maximin - which was deflected over - bringing the curtain down on a largely uneventful afternoon in South London.