Almirón's superb strike on 32 minutes was the only goal of the game at St. James' Park, earning Eddie Howe’s men the points and ensuring that the Magpies would emulate Sir Bobby Robson’s team of 2003/04 – the last United side to record that many victories in a row on their own patch.
It was a sterling first half's work from the hosts. They threatened through Almirón and Allan Saint-Maximin, who seemed to be enjoying himself as he tormented the Palace backline in the early stages. There was a shout for handball as Cheikhou Kouyate charged down Almirón's hooked effort in the box, but referee Tony Harrington was unmoved.
Patrick Vieira's side, meanwhile, struggled to find their feet, but many of their problems were caused by United, who looked livelier and hungrier right across the park. The visitors squandered their only real opportunity of the half when Odsonne Edouard misplaced his pass to Conor Gallagher as they broke away on the counter, and they were made to pay just after the half hour.
It was a terrific strike from Almirón and a fine, efficient move from the Magpies. Emil Krafth, who frustrated the Eagles' Wilfried Zaha all night, found Bruno Guimarães from a throw-in and the Brazilian's ball over the top gave Almirón something to chase down the right. He comfortably outpaced Tyrick Mitchell but there was still plenty to do as he burst into the box – and he did it all with aplomb, sending a terrific sidefooted effort into the top left hand corner beyond Vicente Guaita.
Aside from a routine stop from Edouard, Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka had nothing to do before the break, and hardly anything to do after it either. Joelinton nodded a Matt Targett free kick down into the ground and over as the second half began in a similar pattern but gradually the Eagles grew into the contest, helped in part by introducing a second striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta, to partner Edouard.
With just under half an hour remaining, Zaha pulled a shot just past the upright as Palace pushed for a leveller and United had to defend from the front; Chris Wood, a tireless worker in attack, got his head to a James McArthur cross in his own penalty box as it looked destined to drop onto the head of Joachim Andersen.
Mateta then headed over and Edouard glanced a cross into Dúbravka's arms as Newcastle were pinned back in the final quarter but it never looked likely that Howe's charges would relinquish their lead. Another good result at Norwich City on Saturday could see the Magpies break into the top half of the Premier League table – a prospect that seemed almost unthinkable when Howe took charge in November.
