Crystal Palace secured their Premier League safety with a decisive 2-0 victory over Newcastle on Wednesday, as Jean-Philippe Mateta continued his impressive scoring streak at home.
Mateta's fifth consecutive home goal ensured Palace's triumph and further solidified their recent resurgence under manager Oliver Glasner, following notable wins against West Ham and Liverpool.
The breakthrough came in the 55th minute at Selhurst Park when Mateta clinically finished off a well-executed play, courtesy of a clever one-two with Jordan Ayew. This goal marked Palace's first against Newcastle in their last seven encounters.
Despite Newcastle's attempts to level the score late in the game, Palace remained resilient. In the 88th minute, substitute Will Hughes linked up with Jeffrey Schlupp, who then set up Mateta for his second goal of the night. Mateta's shot, though scuffed, managed to find its way through the legs of Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, securing his eighth goal in nine games since Glasner took charge in February.
The victory propels Palace to 14th place in the standings, comfortably positioned 14 points above the relegation zone. With only four games remaining, relegation-threatened Luton, in 18th place, faces an uphill battle to escape the drop.